WITNO1470100
WITNESS: AMANDA BARBER
STATEMENT NUMBER: WITNO147_01
EXHIBITS: 0
DATED: Jan 11, 2022
POST OFFICE HORIZON IT INQUIRY
FIRST WRITTEN STATEMENT OF AMANDA BARBER
THIS STATEMENT IS PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO THE RULE 9 REQUEST OF
THE PUBLIC INQUIRY DATED 29/10/2021 TO ADDRESS THE HUMAN IMPACT OF
THE FAILINGS OF THE HORIZON IT SYSTEM
I, Mrs Amanda Barber, Date of Birth: I “GRO.
_} will say as follows: -
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
1. I live with my husband Norman in a caravan at the above address.
2. Iam 51 years old.
3. I am employed as a Customer Service Advisor at IKEA, where I’ve been
working since June 2021. Prior to that, and since my issues with the Post
Office, I have had small jobs such as cleaning.
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POST OFFICE HISTORY
4. I became sub-postmaster of the Thelwall branch in 2009 when I bought the
business using a Post Office loan via Barclays Bank. I worked there with my
husband Norman.
5. Prior to that, my husband and I purchased a previous Post Office from my
father in Lancaster. My father ran that one before us. We had this for
approximately 3 years.
6. In addition to this, my husband and I would frequently work for the National
Register.
7. Norman and I first became aware of others having similar issues with the
Horizon system after watching the Panorama TV programme in 2019.
CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS AND ANY PROCEEDINGS/CONVICTION
7. I had reported issues with Horizon, the financial software, to the Post Office on
a number of occasions. I initially thought that other staff members had been
stealing money, but there was no evidence of this. The Post Office wouldn’t
listen, and said that I had to make good any shortfalls. I had been doing this for
some time, and I ended up having to take out loans and credit cards to clear
the balance.
8. An official audit was done on my Post Office on 21 June 2011. I was present at
the time. Before they had even checked the balance, they had suspended me
and claimed to have found a shortfall.
9. The auditors found a deficit total of £5,631.84 at the store. My husband and I
knew about a shortfall, but he was selling his car the following day to make up
for this.
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10.On the same day, the auditors had managed to arrange for an agency worker
to come in. He turned up in a sports car and laughed as he came in claiming
he was making a fortune from taking over Post Offices, and that we would never
see the Post Office again.
11.1 was asked to attend an interview with Post-Office Officials at the Warrington
Sorting Office. I told them the truth, but they still charged me with Fraud. I took
a neighbour with me as a witness. I was told that I would likely avoid a custodial
sentence if I pleaded guilty.
12. They later interviewed my husband Norman at the police station, and he was
also charged.
13. The Post Office searched my car, and also wanted to search my home, but I
managed to resist them doing so.
14. At Warrington Magistrates Court I was persuaded to plead guilty to the charges
of fraud that were against me to lessen my sentence, given the issues with
evidence. This was on the advice of my legal team. On 6 June 2012, I was
sentenced to a 12-month Community Order and a requirement to complete 100
hours of unpaid community service, and have since been trying to pay back the
Post Office.
15.My conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal on 18 November 2021.
THE HUMAN IMPACT
16. The human impact which the failings of the Horizon IT System have had and
continue to have upon me and my family are set out in the remainder of this
statement. The section headings follow the particular questions posed by the
Inquiry.
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WHAT WERE THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING REQUIRED TO MAKE GOOD
APPARENT SHORTFALLS SHOWN BY THE HORIZON IT SYSTEM?
17.1 first noticed shortfalls and was starting to pay £200-£300 at a time to try and
cover this. I initially felt that it was staff stealing. However, it reached a stage
where the shortfalls were too much for me to be able to pay back.
18.1 took out credit cards and loans, and my husband used his inheritance
money. My husband had also planned to sell his car to make up these
shortfalls, but the auditors turned up the day before, and weren't interested.
19.1’m still paying back the money to the Post Office now.
WHAT WERE THE COSTS OF MAKING GOOD ALLEGED SHORTFALLS
SHOWN BY HORIZON?
20. Throughout mine and my husband's time working at the Post Office, we
borrowed £30,000 from my family, used £50,000 of our inheritance, and sold
the family car. This was just to cover the costs of the shortfalls on a weekly
basis.
HOW WERE YOU AFFECTED WHEN ALLEGED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
SHORTFALLS OR DISCREPANCIES SHOWN BY THE HORIZON IT SYSTEM?
21.It was very degrading to be told that I was suspended from the Post Office, as
was having my car searched, and being interviewed by the Post Office
officials.
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22. Almost immediately everybody stopped talking to us. Our immediate family
even isolated us. Only our daughter stuck by us. It was a horrendous
experience to go through.
23.We were told that there was a chance we could go to prison. It was a very
frightening time for me and my husband.
WHAT WERE THE COSTS OF MAKING GOOD ALLEGED SHORTFALLS
SHOWN BY HORIZON?
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24.As a direct result of my and my husband’s experience with the Post Office, we
sold our shop and the sale of the business was at a loss.
25.After my role was terminated by the Post Office, we effectively lost the entire
family income as we were unable to carry on working in the shop. We had both
been earning approximately £20,000 a year, and our daughter was working full
time at the business too.
WHAT WERE THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR
SHORTFALLS AND DISCREPANCIES SHOWN BY THE HORIZON IT SYSTEM?
26.My contract with the Post Office was terminated, meaning that I no longer had
any livelihood, and I lost my business as a result.
27.We were also prevented from working for the National register, which was
another source of income for us both. We were never able to work for the
Post Office again.
28.At one point we had £30 to our name to pay for either food, fuel or to go
towards our mortgage. We had to lend inheritance money that my daughter
received to help us get by. This was humiliating.
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WHAT WERE THE FINANCIAL LOSSES CAUSED BY ACTION TAKEN AGAINST
YOU IN RELIANCE UPON HORIZON DATA?
29.As a result of the criminal conviction, I was ordered to repay £5,631.84 back
to the Post Office. I initially started to do this at an agreed amount of £40 per
month from June 2014.
30.1 also had to pay back the Court fees of £700.
31.Prior to the conviction, I was earning approximately £40,000 per year. Due to
the conviction of fraud against me, I now earn £16,000, so there is a
significant loss of livelihood.
32.Previously I would also make up income with my role on the National
Register. My husband and I would go all over the country, and I was on a rate
of £100 per day. It was worth doing frequently, and we were able to do so
whilst leaving the Post Office being managed back at home.
WHAT EFFECT DID IT HAVE TO BE ACCUSED OF COMMITTING CRIMINAL
OFFENCES AS A RESULT OF SHORTFALLS AND DISCREPANCIES SHOWN
BY THE HORIZON IT SYSTEM?
33.1 was a well-known member of our local community. We ran the newsagents
as well as the Post Office, and everyone in the community would use the
shop. We were considered a pillar in the community.
34.Being accused of being a criminal changed everything overnight. It was all
over the local news, and people started ignoring us in the street and we were
segregated from the community.
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35. Along with the emotional impact, I was very angry that it was being taken so
far. Our reputation was ruined.
36.1 became depressed and anxious, and at times felt suicidal. I went to my GP
to ask for help as I didn’t want to be here anymore. I was placed on
antidepressants, and I still take these now.
37.1 had to do my community service with men, and although I was told that it
would not be in my local community, it was. It was humiliating having to work
in local parks where I could come across people that I knew. I just kept my
head down hoping that people may not recognise me.
WHAT WERE THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING CONVICTED OF A CRIMINAL
OFFENCE AS A RESULT OF SHORTFALLS AND DISCREPANCIES SHOWN BY
THE HORIZON IT SYSTEM?
38. Following my suspension, we had no income coming in, and we therefore put
our house on the market. We couldn’t keep up with the mortgages. It took 3
years for the house to sell, and we could barely get by during this time.
39.We now live in a caravan due to the lesser expense and have done for many
years.
40.We are still paying money back to the Post Office and we have been left in a
huge amount of debt.
41.Because I had a criminal conviction against me, I struggled finding work. I
wanted to go for management positions, but this was not possible due to the
conviction.
42.I ended up in low paid roles just to make ends meet.
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43. Along with my husband's role in the airport, where he works at their car parks,
and our dual roles in the Post Office and on the National Register, we were
trying to put away money for a happy and luxurious retirement. This would
involve a lifestyle of holidays and enjoyment. The conviction meant that this
was no longer a future we could plan for.
WHAT EFFECT DID THESE ISSUES HAVE UPON YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH
YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND LOCAL COMMUNITY?
44. Following the conviction, our family stopped talking to us. I pleaded guilty to
avoid a custodial sentence. As such, people saw us as guilty.
45. They also convicted my husband, even though I was the Sub-Postmistress
and he just helped out.
46.Nobody would speak to us anymore. It was very traumatic having everything
changed in our life.
47.Prior to the incident my husband and I were very outgoing. We talked to
everyone and had lots of friends. However, since the conviction, we have
become socially withdrawn, and people simply ignore us.
48.My husband and I had a big role in the wider community, not only with the
Post Office and newsagents, but we also helped the introduction of Post
Offices within WHSmith shops.
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PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECT WHICH THESE
ISSUES HAD UPON THE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY?
49.My daughter worked with us in the newsagent section of the business. She
was deeply affected by everything that had happened, and we had to support
her too.
50. She no longer works and feels just as isolated as we do.
51.My husband and I struggled within our relationship too. He had to work 7 days
a week to try and make ends meet. However, when I did see him, we spent a
lot of time either arguing or not communicating at all. It was never like this
before the incident.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
52. The squashing of the conviction against me is a relief; however, this
experience will always be with us. The past 12 years have been hell.
53. Family and friends haven’t spoken to us for the whole of this time, and
therefore relationships have just gone. We will never get that time back.
54.Going through the process of overturning the wrongful conviction has brought
back all those feelings. The humiliation has come back, and it is difficult to
hear strangers talking about our experiences.
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Statement Of Truth
I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true.
Print Full
Name: AMANDA BARBER
Position Or
Office Held:
Date of signature: Jan 11,2022
FILE REFERENC
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