Honour for sub-postmaster jailed in the Post Office IT scandal

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https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wale ... t-25692318

Noel Thomas was one of more than 700 other sub-postmasters and mistresses who were accused of theft, fraud and false accounting.

A former sub-postmaster from Anglesey, who was disqualified as a councillor when he was wrongly jailed, has been honoured by his local authority. 75-year-old Noel Thomas from Gaerwen on Anglesey was one of more than 700 other sub-postmasters and mistresses who were accused of theft, fraud and false accounting.

Problems within the Post Office's computer system Horizon meant it looked like money was missing from branches - in some cases tens of thousands of pounds was said to be lost. Mr Thomas was convicted and sent to prison for false accounting for nine months in 2006, but had his conviction quashed in April of last year.

In a special ceremony on Tuesday, Isle of Anglesey County Council awarded Mr Thomas with what they described as a "a long delayed vote of thanks for his service", the BBC reported. Noel had been a councillor representing Plaid Cymru since 1986.

Read more: 'I was wrongly jailed, my business taken from me, my life ruined - because of computer mistake'

However, he received a letter of disqualification while he was serving in Kirkham Prison in Lancashire. Council chairman Dafydd Roberts, who presented Mr Thomas with a gift, said: "Noel had to leave the council through no fault of his own, but our hands were tied.

"We have great sympathy for him, he has been treated horrendously by his employer, and we appreciate the way he has conducted himself during this egregious miscarriage of justice. There is nothing the council can do to right the wrong, but we can take a small step to show we have the greatest respect for him."


Former post office worker Noel Thomas , who was convicted of false accounting in 2006, celebrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice, London, after having his conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal in April, 2021. (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Cllr Roberts added that they wanted to show their appreciation as a council and that "[Noel] was and always will be a pillar of the community". According to the BBC, Mr Thomas said that he was extremely grateful for the honour and he vividly remembered getting the disqualification letter in prison.

He said: "What could I do? I read it, and had a lump in my throat, helping people was the main thing about being a councillor - it was the Post Office's fault not the council."