Post Office minister to look at Norwich man's Horizon case

Roger Allen, who lived in Rackheath with his wife Julie, died last month aged 81.

The couple had previously run the St Johns Close post office, off Hall Road in Lakenham, between 1994 and 2002.

They were arrested and accused of a £37,000 fraud in November 2002, leading to Mr Allen being imprisoned for six months.

His family insists he was one of more than 900 sub-postmasters accused of stealing money because of the highly controversial Horizon computer system scandal, although this was dismissed at the Court of Appeal due to a lack of evidence in 2021.

Roger Allen died on March 9 at home (Image: Keren Simpson)

One of his daughters, 46-year-old Keren Simpson, has been fighting to clear her father's name and recently met with Post Office minister, Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake, last Thursday.

Mrs Simpson said: "Unfortunately Mr Hollinrake said that the decision to exclude the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) cases from the legislation was because the DWP was adamant its cases had very strong evidence and it seems he has taken their word for it.

"While admitting he wasn't aware of my father's case when they made this decision, he added that it wasn't practical for them to look at every single case.

Keren Simpson, Mr Allen's daughter, is fighting to clear his name from the Horizon Post Office scandal (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest)

"I've asked that he looks at my father's case - which he has agreed to do - and I have forwarded him the remaining evidence and paperwork."

Mrs Simpson, who flew in from Australia ahead of her father's funeral on Friday, is also considering launching a petition to have his case looked into.

She added: "I want to get this petition launched because I don't think my father's issue is being listened to.

"I'm hoping to get as many signatures as possible and will continue to fight to clear my father's name."

The St Johns Close post office in Lakenham, pictured in January 2003 (Image: Newsquest)

A spokesman for Mr Hollinrake, who is the minister of state for enterprise, markets and small business, said: "We've been working tirelessly to get redress into the hands of those postmasters and postmistresses wronged by the injustices of this scandal and have introduced legislation to quash convictions resulting from the Horizon scandal. 

"As part of his role, the postal affairs minister has been meeting with affected postmasters to better understand their cases so that we can provide them with the best support possible."

READ MORE: Horizon Post Office scandal tormented Norwich sub-postmaster

Mrs Simpson initially contacted Jerome Mayhew, the Conservative MP for Broadland, about her father's issues on April 12.

Conservative MP for Broadland, Jerome Mayhew, said he's pleased Mrs Simpson case is being looked into by the Post Office Minister (Image: David Holbrook)

Mr Mayhew said: "I was able to organise a one-on-one meeting with the Post Office minister, Kevin Hollinrake MP, so that Mrs Simpson could discuss her father’s experience with him and the impact it has had on their family.

READ MORE: Jailed Norwich Horizon postmaster Roger Allen dies aged 81

"I was very grateful that the minister was so responsive and he's going to look further into her case.

"I've been campaigning for justice for postmasters since March 2020.

"While the government has done a huge amount to right the wrongs of the Post Office, we all know there is further work that needs to be done."

Roger Allen was sentenced to six months in prison due to the Horizon Post Office scandal (Image: Newsquest)

After being made redundant from his underwriting job, of 30 years, Mr Allen used the money to purchase the Post Office in St Johns Close.

READ MORE: Mum-of-two shocked to find METAL wire in takeaway from fast-food giant

Problems with his health started in August 2000 shortly after the Horizon system was introduced when he collapsed at home due to an aortic aneurysm.

Mr Allen also had a stroke in 2018, a year before it was revealed the Horizon system was faulty.

The scandal became much better known after an ITV dramatisation of the situation was broadcast, showing the struggle of campaigners and prompting a wave of national support in the fight for compensation and prosecutions being overturned.

Keren Simpson is looking to set up a government petition to help clear her father's name (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest)