A FORMER sub-postmaster and victim of the Horizon scandal has set up a new support group for Scottish postmasters.
Rab Thomson, from Clackmannanshire, is set to launch the Scottish Postmasters for Justice and Redress (SPJR) group in Holyrood on Wednesday.
Thomson, who had his conviction overturned in January 2024, now wants to help others in Scotland to get the same outcome.
The group aims to support victims of the Horizon scandal and encourage them to apply for redress, even if they were not convicted.
Due to the different legal system in Scotland, Thomson believes a peer support group is needed.
He said: “I am the first postmaster in Scotland to get my conviction overturned by the courts.
“I felt I needed to do something to get other postmasters to come forward.
“Scotland are the sleeping dogs in this case and many victims are unaware of how they can be exonerated or what redress options are available to them. This is why we have set up this group.”
He continued: “We want as many of our ex-colleagues to come forward and attend the launch so they will receive redress, which they are all entitled to, having suffered through the biggest miscarriage of justice in our time.”
The group estimates that around 140 people in Scotland were prosecuted due to issues with the Horizon IT system.
They argue that many affected by the scandal are reluctant to engage with Post Office Limited, meaning they do not receive the compensation that they deserve.
In May last year, MSPs passed a law which exonerated Scots wrongly convicted by the scandal.
The law is intended to allow Scottish postmasters to access a UK compensation scheme.
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Angela Constance (below) said this legislation has so far led to 64 convictions being identified as quashed.
She said: “I am pleased the legislation the Scottish Government brought forward last year has now resulted in 64 people having their convictions identified as quashed and therefore access to redress from the UK Government as a result.
“The Scottish Government continues to encourage anyone who considers they suffered an injustice to come forward.
“There is no time limit under the legislation and the Scottish Government will always look into any cases where people give their name as a possible miscarriage of justice case.”
The group has also received support from former Motherwell and Wishaw MP Marion Fellows.
The Post Office scandal refers to sub-postmasters who were wrongly convicted of offences such as fraud due to faulty Horizon software.
