WITNO9020200
WITN09020200
Witness Name: JULIE KAY (nee WOLSTENHOLME)
Dated: 26/01/2024
POST OFFICE HORIZON IT INQUIRY
SECOND WITNESS STATEMENT OF JULIE KAY (nee WOLSTENHOLME)
I, Julie Kay will say as follows:
1. I make this statement in addition to my first statement dated 30" June 2023 which was in
response to a Rule 9 request by the Inquiry and addressed the civil proceedings taken by
Post Office Ltd against me.
2. This statement is to address the Human Impact that Post Office Ltd’s actions have caused
me. I was not in contact with the Inquiry when the evidence in Phase 1 was sought and
presented.
3. I cannot begin to explain how devastating the closure of my Post Office branch was and the
way the Post Office dealt with the problems I was having with Horizon. I was so happy
when I found out I had been accepted as the new Postmaster of Cleveleys MSPO. It was
supposed to be the start of an exciting new chapter for me and my family, a dream come
true. I never imagined that within 12 months I would have lost everything.
4. I explained in my first statement the problems I encountered with the Horizon system. I
contacted the Helpdesk to seek help, spoke to my Retail Line Manager Elaine Tagg. I was
WITNO9020200
WITNO9020200
sure that I wasn't doing anything wrong but proving it turned out to be impossible. I was
being told that my office was the only one experiencing problems. Being blamed and it
being suggested that I did not know how to use Horizon correctly was extremely upsetting.
5. Balance nights turned into nightmares. I felt so frustrated and very alone. I spent hours
going over and over reports, trying to understand why I kept misbalancing. I had to start
asking my mum and dad to look after my children at my house, so they could put them to
bed, as I knew I wouldn’t be home in time anymore to do it myself. It made me feel so
guilty, not being there for my children.
6. Financially, I had taken out a bank loan and a loan from my dad to purchase the Post
Office. I had no spare money. When the office started misbalancing and I had to make up
the shortfalls, I had to borrow money that was supposed to be for bills and food shopping,
and then more money off my dad. I felt like a complete failure.
7. The whole thing had such a detrimental effect on my mental health. Watching my debts
escalating was terrifying. The way I was treated throughout my time using the horizon I
system was, I think, completely unjustified.
8. After my suspension & subsequent termination I became very depressed. My long term
goal to continue as sub postmaster until retirement was ruthlessly taken away.
9. It was very hard for my children, I wasn’t sleeping, I was constantly stressed, all of which
resulted in me being quite snappy at times.
10.1 owed so much money and had no way of repaying it. I had to take my two youngest
children out of nursery, which they absolutely loved going to. In May 2001 I had to sell my I
house, I had some equity in it and I needed it to be able to afford a solicitor to fight my case. !
I had to sell/giveaway the majority of mine and my children’s possessions to move into my I
WITNO9020200
WITNO9020200
parent's caravan in Longridge, around 20 miles away. It was hard, commuting every day to I
get my children to and from school. My parents decided it would be a bit easier for me to be j
closer to them and my children’s school so they bought a small caravan and I lived in it with
my children, in my parent's yard. We used the office in the Post Office as a room for the I
children to play & watch television. It was a tough time for all of us. The children missed out
a lot during this time. It wasn’t easy living in Cleveleys. I didn’t want go out, I couldn't bear I
to see people staring at me, believing what Elaine Tagg had told them, that I had stolen the
money.
11.My staff also lost their jobs. Three of them took me to an employment tribunal. They won
but unfortunately I didn’t have the money to pay them.
12. It took a long time for me to get mine and my children’s life back on track. In 2002 with no
future & no money, we finally moved into a rented house. I had to clam benefits & luckily I
the rent was paid for me. I
13. Finally in 2004 after finding an IT specialist, who agreed there was something wrong with
Horizon, the Post Office offered me a settlement and I was advised to. take it. It equated to I
approximately the 3 months wages, which I was owed. I have been made aware that there
is a Post Office document — an internal slide pack from around 2010 — where the settlement ]
of my case was referred to (POL00031815). That refers to settlement at £1 87,500. I have I
never spoken openly about the settlement I received, partly because the settlement had a 1
confidentiality clause. However, I can say now that the settlement I received was £20,000 — I
this is my best recollection and approximate; my legal costs were also paid by the Post I
Office.
14. The settlement money didn’t allow me to pay off many debts. I was not allowed to discuss
or further pursue any matters regarding Horizon or the Post Office. It didn't feel like a ]
victory. I was left with a mountain of debts and a building (the branch premises) worth half
of the value it was 12 months earlier. No job, no house, not even a pension. My reputation
was tarnished, a lot of people believing I stole money from the Post Office.
WITNO9020200
WITNO9020200
15. The whole experience has had a long lasting impact on me and my family. Everything I had,
taken away from me.
16. It is my belief that if the Post Office and Horizon had given me the help that I deserved I
would not have experienced these great losses, the considerable stress I encountered or
the hardships my family endured.
17.1 sincerely hope that the people involved are held accountable and that myself and all
Postmasters involved are given the justice they deserve.
Statement of Truth
I believe the content of this statement to be true.