IT firm head said scandal victim was a ‘nasty chap’
A FUJITSU manager told a colleague tasked with presenting evidence in Post Office prosecutions that a sub-postmaster was a “nasty chap” intent on going “all out” to damage the company’s reputation, the Horizon IT inquiry heard.
Lee Castleton, 55, was blamed for a £26,000 shortfall at his Yorkshire branch in 2004 and declared bankrupt three years later after the Post Office took his case to the High Court.
He was one of hundreds of sub-postmasters pursued through the courts after glitches in the Horizon system left losses on counters that did not exist.
However, an email presented to the inquiry yesterday revealed how manager Peter Sewell branded Mr Castleton a “nasty chap” who was “all out to rubbish the FJ [Fujitsu] name”, ahead of his 2007 legal battle.
Mr Sewell, who was part of the Post Office Account Security Team at Fujitsu, also made a crude reference to Fetter Lane – where the High Court is situated.
In court, Mr Sewell appeared shocked when presented with his own words, telling Julian Blake, counsel for the inquiry: “I don’t remember writing it, but obviously I did. But I certainly don’t understand it.”
The email was sent to Andy Dunks, an IT analyst Mr Sewell managed, who was due to present Horizon evidence in the Castleton case. Sent in December 2006, Mr Sewell’s email read: “See you in court then. Fetters [Fetter] lane is where they used to hang people out to dry. I don’t suppose that type of thing happens any more though.”
He added: “That Castleton is a nasty chap and will be all out to rubbish the FJ (Fujitsu) name. It’s up to you to maintain absolute strength and integrity no matter what the prosecution throw at you. We will all be behind you hoping you come through unscathed. Bless you.”
In response, Mr Dunks wrote back: “Thank you for those very kind and encouraging words. I had to pause halfway through reading it to wipe away a small tear… Bless you all….”
Speaking to The Telegraph after seeing the email, Mr Castleton said: “I don’t know either of the people mentioned in the email – and I would have thought you would need to meet someone to make a judgment like that. Let’s face it, we know exactly what kind of people we are dealing with, it’s a group of people who were out to ruin me, so in that sense it doesn’t surprise me.”
He added: “Hanging me out to dry? That is exactly what they did to me and that is the ethos of both companies [Fujitsu and Post Office].”