THE brother-in-law of a tragic sub-postmaster who was wrongly convicted says he is "heartened" that the truth about the "terrible" Post Office scandal is coming to light.
Julian Wilson, who ran a post office in Astwood Bank, was one of hundreds of sub-postmasters to be handed criminal convictions for allegations such as theft and false accounting.
He died from cancer in 2016 aged 67 - more than four years before his conviction was overturned in April 2021.
The scandal has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history and has been put back in the spotlight following ITV’s new four-part drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
69-year-old Karen Wilson, Mr Wilson's widow, previously said his wrongful conviction over missing funds “massively contributed” to his early death.
Her brother David Hill, the brother-in-law of Mr Wilson, has said it's a "shame" it's taken an ITV drama to bring the scandal back to the forefront - but is thankful the truth is being shared widely.
The 67-year-old said: "I am so heartened, that at last the truth is starting to come out and be disseminated across the UK.
"Regardless of compensation there will never be closure until those responsible at Post Office, Civil service, Government Ministers (from whatever party), NFSP and Fujitsu are held to account.
"Julian was a pillar of the local community, well-liked at the Astwood Bank Post office, a job that he loved doing.
"He loved so many things in life his music and singing and acting as well as a fan of the cricket to name but a few. Musical theatre was a real love, but sadly he had to resign his chairmanship of the local musical group. Many painful consequences made him feel humiliated, as a victim of this scandal.
"The social implications for him and his family, as with so many who were victims of this scandal can inflict so much pain and lead people down a lonely and dark place.
"You start to withdraw from society as depression takes hold. Being a victim of this certainly affected his health".
Mr Hill has also thanked those in the Astwood Bank community who supported the family at the time.
He added: "Thank you to those who supported Julian and Karen through such a difficult time.
"Thank you to Astwood Bank Cricket Club and many friends and customers who always believed in him. Thank you to the local MPs who tried to help including Jacqui Smith and Karen Lumley.
"I know that further painful truth will come out soon, in this terrible scandal".
Mr Wilson took a plea deal in 2008 after auditors found more than £27,000 missing in the branch accounts.
In December 2019, a High Court judge ruled that the Horizon IT System contained several “bugs, errors and defects” and there was a “material risk” that shortfalls in Post Office branch accounts were caused by the system.
Mr Wilson, who was suspended in September 2008 when an audit found that there was more than £27,000 missing from the accounts, was charged with false accounting and theft.
At an inquiry in 2022, Mrs Wilson described how her husband was left little choice but to take a plea deal to avoid prison and was sentenced to community service as well as a confiscation order for the missing money.
After the conviction, she said he was unable to find work, their assets were frozen, and she ended up pawning her belongings including her engagement ring to get by.
In January 2016, Mr Wilson was diagnosed with bowel cancer and as it progressed, Mrs Wilson promised him she would fight to vindicate him.
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