A former sub-postmistress who was wrongly accused of stealing £26,000 has called today’s announcement by the government over compensation for victims “ridiculous” and says she is owed for “two decades of her life.”
Nicki Arch, who ran the Chalford Hill branch near Stroud, told GB News:
“We've tried and tried [for redress] and I've done two decades now, I'm going into my 24th year of fighting this. I lost my business, and my post office.
“And I've been on the same antidepressants now, as I was put on a month after it happened.
“The announcements today were just ridiculous. Nothing's changed, has it. They're just trying to fob us off until the election is done, basically.
“I was in my 20s when it happened. I'm now in my 50s and the fight carries on, it just doesn't go away.
“All the 555 of the JFSA are getting totally forgotten about. What redress have we got? Up to £75,000 if we qualify."
Recounting the ordeal she endured she continued:
“I waited two years for them to take me to Bristol Crown Court for a three-and-a-half-day trial, where I stood with prison officers next to me for three and a half days, trying to defend myself against what seemed the most powerful company in the world.
“But it just happened that the jury believed me, but the damage had already been done.
“Paul Marshall, my barrister, instructed me to get a proper independent forensic accountant to calculate my losses independently which we’ve done and we had to pay for.
“I've also had an independent medical report done as well.
“We submitted my full claim into the Department of Business and Trade nearly five months ago now, and I haven't received a penny.
“So I don't know what Mr. Hollinrake is talking about, that he wants to turn these around in 40 days, because my 40 days is truly gone.
“I retired when I was 49 because I've had six operations, I've not been able to have more children after my first one and I've got so many other health issues that I had to retire with ill health and the local council.
“I wasn't allowed an apology from the Post Office because I was acquitted but the 555 group won’t stop until we get compensation.”
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