The family of a subpostmistress who was falsely accused of embezzling Post Office funds have won a fight to clear her name, 15 years after she was convicted. Caren Lorimer pleaded guilty at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in 2009 to one charge of embezzlement from the town’s New Farm Loch Post Office, where she had worked for 17 years.
She was handed a community service order requiring 300 hours of unpaid work and a compensation order for £15,000. Following Ms Lorimer’s death in 2022, her family sought a review of her conviction, and days before an appeal hearing was due to take place, her conviction has been quashed.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service confirmed the conviction was quashed administratively on May 29. Her widower, David Lorimer, previously said it would mean “the world” for the family for her conviction to be overturned.
He told the BBC: “I’m really, really happy and I’m really sad that Caren’s not here but she’ll know. She’ll know
She would be extremely proud of all that we have accomplished for her. She will be content up there right now.
Ms Lorimer’s daughter, Laura, told the broadcaster it was “upsetting” her mother had not lived to see her name cleared. She said: “I find it most upsetting that she died a convicted criminal. That can’t be undone. I’m happy she’s exonerated but she died a convicted criminal.
More than 700 Post Office branch managers around the UK were prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their branches.
Chief Executive of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC), Michael Walker, stated: “We continue to receive reports from subpostmasters who feel they were wrongfully convicted.”
“We urge everyone who hasn’t gotten in contact to do so. Applications from the affected person’s next of kin will be accepted if they have passed away. Our service is simple to use and is free. There’s no need for a solicitor.Our experts will be happy to walk you through the application procedure if you think that Horizon caused you or a close family member to suffer a miscarriage of justice.
Following false accusations of embezzlement in the Horizon affair, almost 100 subpostmasters in Scotland were found guilty; however, in recent years, many more throughout the UK have had their convictions reversed.
On March 13, legislation to clear the names of the hundreds of subpostmasters found guilty in England and Wales due to the Horizon scam was introduced. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called this a “important step” toward clearing their names.
The Scottish Government passed a Bill to exonerate subpostmasters in Scotland who were wrongly convicted on May 30, meaning those convicted of “relevant offences” will have the conviction quashed when the legislation comes into force.
The Post Office has been contacted for comment.
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