Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Jonathan Armstrong, a sub-postmaster whose life was devastated by errors in the Post Office’s Horizon accounting system, died last October without receiving full compensation for the injustice he endured. He passed away at the age of 58 due to a heart attack. Armstrong’s widow, Sarah, is now pursuing a claim for damages from the Post Office, citing the relentless stress caused by the scandal as a major factor in his declining health.
The Post Office expressed its condolences upon learning of Jonathan’s death, stating its sorrow, while the government emphasized its commitment to delivering justice promptly for those affected. Sarah Armstrong spoke publicly for the first time about the profound impact of the ordeal on her family. She remarked, “I truly believe that if we’d been paid out five years ago, he would still be here.” Their daughter, Becky, shared that Jonathan had attempted to take his own life on the day when auditors arrived to inspect the accounts at their East Sussex branch in 2014. At that point, discrepancies attributed to the faulty Horizon software had escalated to tens of thousands of pounds, causing immense pressure on Jonathan.
Following this attempt, Jonathan was hospitalized for nearly a month and then moved to a supervised residence for six weeks. The Armstrong family, originally from Zimbabwe and having settled in the UK in 2004 to escape political unrest, had established a thriving post office business by 2006. Sarah recalled their success fondly: “It was a lovely little Post Office. We transformed it, quadrupling sales. It was very, very community based.” Despite these achievements, Jonathan’s contract was terminated after he was falsely accused of theft, and the family endured suspicion and hostility from their community.
Sarah described Jonathan as “a broken man” suffering from anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and worsened diabetes as a result of the pressure. To protect him from prosecution, she stepped in as sub-postmaster and absorbed a £43,000 shortfall herself. Becky left university to help run the shop and was constantly worried about her father’s wellbeing. She described him as “a shell of what he used to be… he’d just given up on life.” In 2015, the family sold the business and relocated to Gloucestershire to be nearer to Becky’s siblings. Although Jonathan submitted a compensation claim, an initial offer was below a third of the amount claimed, which he declined. His ongoing efforts to secure full redress continued until April when his case moved into a new appeals process, though he died before a resolution was reached.
Jonathan had only received an interim payment from the Post Office, which he used to purchase a caravan near Cirencester where Sarah still lives. She revealed that he was “obsessed” with obtaining full compensation, not only for financial security but as validation of his innocence and to start anew in a more positive environment, preferably “somewhere in the sunshine.” Becky, now a sports coach and part of a group campaigning for adult children affected by the scandal, is left heartbroken. She says, “I’m heartbroken he’s not here to walk me down the aisle,” referring to the wedding they had planned before his passing. Sarah holds the Post Office responsible for the suffering her family has endured and is determined to continue seeking justice in his name.
After the BBC contacted the Department for Business and Trade, the Armstrong family received a “significantly improved offer” from the Post Office, which they are currently reviewing. A spokesperson from the Post Office acknowledged the long-lasting pain caused to postmasters and their families, apologizing sincerely for Jonathan’s death and the hardships experienced. A government representative also extended condolences and emphasized the urgency of resolving compensation claims, expressing dedication to achieving swift justice for the victims
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.