Former Hogsthorpe sub-postmaster welcomes PM promise for justice for all as inquiry into Post Office scandal resumes

The public inquiry into the affair resumes today (Thursday) and follows an announcement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who told the House of Commons on Wednesday that those previously convicted in England and Wales would be cleared of wrongdoing and compensated under a new law.

In addition Paula Vennells – the former Post Office chief executive depicted in the ITV mini-series – has handed back her CBE after a petition gathered more than one million signatures following the ITV drama Mr Bates v the Post Office, which was aired last week, shed light on the 20-year fight for justice that hundreds of sub-postmasters have endured.

Tom Hedges is one of just 93 sub-posters who had his conviction overturned at the Court of Appeal in 2019 and he has been fighting for compensation ever since having being forced to pay the Post Office a £60,000 shortfall on the faulty Horizon system that is at the centre of the scandal.

"It is good that Paula has handed back her gong – I do not think she had a choice after 1.2million signed the petition and Rishi had more or less said he backed it," commented Tom.

“It is typical of her, when the writing is on the wall she just gives up and walks away.

"She walked from the PO near the end of the 555 trial in 2019 as it was obvious they would lose

"Handing her CBE just follows that pattern.

“As for the new law, it does not affect me as I have had my conviction quashed, but had it not then I would welcome the chance to clear my name by whatever means.

"It is liberating to have that lifted off your shoulders.

"There will be odd individuals who want their day in court but I feel would be happy to put sorry affair behind them and it also gets them compensation.”

Lincolnshire World caught up with Mr Hedges at the home he has rented with his wife, Carol, in Chapel St Leonards since they lost their post office as a result of his conviction.

He had been planning his sermon for a service he would be giving at St May’s Church, Hogsthorpe, having become a Lay Minister earlier last year.

We asked his what he thought to the ITV drama Mr Bates v The Post Office.

The star-studded TV drama featured Toby Jones as Mr Bates and included characters that Mr Hedges has fought alongside over the years.

"I thought the TV prgramme was absolutely spot on,” Mr Hedges commented. “It had myself and my wife, Carol, with goosebumps because it was so real.

"We kept shouting at the screen ‘that’s what happened to us’ and ‘they (the Post Office) said that to us’.

"Our two daughters have been unable to watch it as it has brought back too many nasty memories.”

Welcoming the call for compensation payments to be speeded up, he said the drama was right in highlighting that the campaign for justice goes on. He saids: “I will most definitely fight on.”