First individual Horizon victim to sue Post Office and Fujitsu

Former post office branch manager Lee Castleton has initiated legal action against the UK Post Office and Fujitsu, becoming the first victim of the "Horizon" IT scandal to sue both organizations. This move marks another significant advancement in the victims' pursuit of justice and compensation.

Castleton's case is among the most prominent in the scandal. Hundreds of post office branch managers were wrongly convicted due to faulty software that showed shortfalls in their accounts. Mr. Castleton is seeking compensation and claims that the civil judgment against him was obtained through fraud.

In an interview with the BBC, Castleton stated, "I want justice and I want to clear my name publicly." He instructed his law firm, Simons Muirhead Burton, on Tuesday to file a lawsuit against the UK Post Office and Fujitsu in the High Court on his behalf. The UK Post Office and Fujitsu have been contacted for comment on this matter.

Although other victims' convictions have been overturned, the civil judgment against Castleton remains in effect. His legal action aims to rescind or overturn that judgment. Castleton said, "I want to be able to effectively defend myself in court as well." He is scheduled to be awarded an OBE next month.

Castleton told the BBC that he lacks confidence in the compensation scheme established by the UK Post Office and wants his case to be heard in court. He has never initiated the compensation scheme process, although he has received an interim payment. He stated that he also wants to take action to help other victims fighting for compensation.

In 2007, Castleton lost a two-year legal battle with the UK Post Office, which sued him to recover £25,000 in cash allegedly missing from his branch in Bridlington, East Yorkshire. After his legal insurance ran out, Castleton had to defend himself in court in person and incurred £321,000 in legal fees, which he could not afford, and he declared bankruptcy.

Castleton stated, "We now know from the Post Office's investigation that they wanted to make an example of me." His lawyer, Simon Goldberger, said, "Lee faces a David versus Goliath battle, and we are prepared to take this case all the way to the High Court."

During the public inquiry, it was discovered that Fujitsu's known error logs were not disclosed in Castleton's proceedings. The application to the court in Castleton's case will argue that the UK Post Office colluded with other entities to conceal evidence about the unreliability of the "Horizon" system. A Fujitsu witness also testified in his case.

Goldberger stated, "What we are effectively saying is that the claim against him was an abuse of process. It was never about recovering the money; it was about making an example of Mr. Castleton." He added, "We also believe that the judgment was obtained through fraud because the UK Post Office and Fujitsu were well aware that the 'Horizon' system was not working properly."