Janet Skinner, a victim of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, is pursuing legal action against the government-owned organization in her quest for full compensation for her wrongful conviction. Janet Skinner, a former subpostmistress, is one of the few victims to take the Post Office to court. Despite her conviction being overturned in 2021, she has not yet received a final payment and has only been offered an insufficient interim sum. Her lawyer, Simon Goldberg, stated that she has been «forced» to sue the Post Office after facing delays and inadequate offers. Janet Skinner’s legal action aims to bring closure to her long-standing fight for justice. Janet Skinner seeks justice from Post Office for wrongful conviction

Janet Skinner speaking to Sky News in January 2024.

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Janet Skinner speaking to Sky News in January 2024. Ms Skinner is taking legal action in an attempt to see the issue resolved. With her conviction overturned in 2021, she has yet to receive a final payment and has only been given an insufficient interim sum. Additionally, she is being asked for six different expert reports, according to her lawyer Simon Goldberg.

Ms Skinner, a former subpostmistress, has been a vocal campaigner for victims of the faulty Horizon software for nearly two decades. The Horizon IT scandal led to the wrongful prosecution and conviction of around 1,000 individuals in the UK between 1999 and 2015. Despite the widespread impact of the scandal, only a few victims have taken legal action against the Post Office.

In a similar case, postmaster Lee Castleton became the first to launch a civil case against the Post Office in March. The ITV drama «Mr Bates vs the Post Office» brought attention to his story, highlighting the injustices faced by postmasters due to the Horizon system.

According to Ms Skinner’s solicitor, more victims may come forward with legal claims if there is no significant change in the handling of the situation. The lack of resolution in cases like Ms Skinner’s could prompt others to seek justice through the legal system.

Ms Skinner’s ordeal began in 2007 when the Horizon computer programme, developed by Fujitsu, incorrectly generated a £59,000 shortfall. This error led to her being sentenced to nine months in custody, during which time her two children were teenagers. She was released with an ankle monitor tag and had to sell her house to avoid repossession.

The impact of the wrongful conviction and imprisonment took a toll on Ms Skinner’s health, leading to a neurological collapse that left her paralyzed from the neck down. Overcoming this physical challenge, she had to relearn how to walk and regain her independence.

In response to the Horizon IT scandal, a Post Office spokesperson expressed regret for the devastating impact on former postmasters like Ms Skinner. The responsibility for redress claims has since shifted to the Department for Business and Trade.

While the Post Office cannot comment on ongoing legal proceedings, they have committed to engaging fully in the redress process once the claim is received. The apology from the Post Office acknowledges the suffering endured by victims of the Horizon scandal and the need for accountability and restitution.

As Ms Skinner continues her legal battle for full redress, the outcome of her case could set a precedent for other victims seeking justice against the Post Office. The fight for accountability and compensation for the harm caused by the Horizon IT scandal remains ongoing, with more potential claims on the horizon. «We’re only compelled to do this because we’ve reached a breaking point,» expressed Mr Goldberg. «It’s incredibly cruel and traumatic that she is still having to fight.» He emphasized that Ms Skinner’s claim should have been resolved within a year of her conviction being overturned. Mr Goldberg also highlighted that the interim offers do not align with the recommendations of retired High Court judge Sir Wyn Williams, who oversaw the public inquiry into the scandal.

Both the Post Office and the Department for Business and Trade, which manages most of the victims’ compensation schemes, stated in October that they would always take a generous approach to assessing compensation. However, Ms Skinner was initially offered only 15% of her total claim, which her solicitor described as an attempt to wear her down.

Regarding potential legal action, Mr Goldberg mentioned that while Ms Skinner is only the second victim to pursue a civil case against the Post Office, she may not be the last. Lee Castleton, a postmaster known from the ITV drama «Mr Bates vs the Post Office,» was the first to take such action in March. Mr Goldberg indicated that without significant change, more claims are likely to follow.

Ms Skinner’s struggles began in 2007 when she received a nine-month prison sentence due to errors in the Horizon computer program, resulting in a £59,000 discrepancy. She went through significant hardship, including imprisonment, house repossession, and a neurological collapse that left her paralyzed from the neck down.

In response to the situation, a Post Office spokesperson acknowledged the impact of the Horizon IT Scandal on individuals like Ms Skinner and offered an apology for her experiences. They stated that the responsibility for Ms Skinner’s compensation claim was transferred to the Department for Business and Trade in June 2025 and expressed willingness to engage fully in the process once the claim is received.

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