Judge condemns Post Office probe

Horizon evidence dismissed as 'unreliable'

- JAMES MULHOLLAND

SCOTS postmasters were wrongly convicted in the Horizon scandal because Post Office investigators misled prosecutors, a court has ruled.

Judge Lady Dorrian yesterday explained the reasons why she overturned convictions against postmasters William Quarm, Aleid Kloosterhuis, Susan Sinclair, Colin Smith, Robert Thomson and Judith Smith.

She ruled evidence generated by the Horizon computer system was unreliable and couldn’t be trusted to secure safe convictions.

The judge also told how a Post Office investigator tasked with interviewing Aleid, made an “incorrect and misleading report” to prosecutors about the interview.

Lady Dorrian wrote: “When she made the admissions she was experiencing mental health difficulties. In the course of the interview she often appeared confused, and incoherent.