The Post Office Scandal | A New Horizon | 1

When Jo Hamilton is accused of stealing thousands from her village post office, her life unravels. Then she meets a man who's says he knows she's innocent. Because the Post Office accused him too. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Alice Levine?

  Matt, can I just say, I'm really loving being on this holiday with you.

• 0:03Matt Forde?

  It is great fun, and I feel like we kind of enjoy doing the same things.

• 0:07Alice Levine?

  Yeah, totally. I just feel like maybe we've done all the things you wanna do, though.

• 0:11Matt Forde?

  I don't think that's true. You seem to have been enjoying yourself.

• 0:14Alice Levine?

  Well, we did just spend all of yesterday watching five concurrent football games from the ball pool.

• 0:18Matt Forde?

  You were loving it!

• 0:19Alice Levine?

  Okay, well, I just wanna mix it up a bit.

• 0:21Matt Forde?

  Okay.

• 0:22Alice Levine?

  So how do you feel about renting some of those jet skis?

• 0:28Matt Forde?

  I've had spinal surgery. There's absolutely no way I'm doing something like that.

• 0:32Alice Levine?

  Okay, that makes a lot of sense. But water, that's good for taking pressure off the old mech. What about Shark Cage?

• 0:40Matt Forde?

  Alice, are you trying to get me killed? There's just no way I'm taking a risk like that.

• 0:44Alice Levine?

  Okay, maybe we just do baby steps. We could go to breakfast a little bit later than 6am, even though they might have run out of mini croissants.

• 0:52Matt Forde?

  Are you mad? You end up at breakfast date, they run out of mini croissants, then you don't have the nutrition you need to get you through the day. You end up sleep deprived, ill. And then if everyone's doing that, society crumbles. There's no order. And then what's the point in living in a democracy? That is a risk I'm not prepared to take. Book the Shark Cage.

• 1:12Alice Levine?

  2011, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

• 1:17Alice Levine?

  Fifty-seven-year-old Alan Bates hurries along the busy high street, zips up his waterproof and glances behind him. His heart thumps. The man's still there.

• 1:31Alice Levine?

  A few days back, he received a mysterious call from someone claiming they had explosive information about the post office Horizon system.

• 1:40Alice Levine?

  For eight years, Alan's been at war with the post office, fighting to clear the names of sub-postmasters falsely accused of stealing.

• 1:51Matt Forde?

  And sub-postmasters are in charge of those branches. They're basically the franchisee.

• 1:55Alice Levine?

  Exactly. So they're the people when you take in the wrong QR code to return your parcel, they're the people whose Thursday afternoon is being ruined.

• 2:04Alice Levine?

  He's taken on a powerful, billion-pound company, and they're determined to shut him down. He risks another glance at the figure following him, takes a mental picture: short grey hair, dark-framed glasses. Alan ducks quickly into a café, hoping to lose him. But the man's right there. Alan Bates? Alan spins, feels his mouth dry, but the man holds out his hand. Richard Roll. I rang last week, about Horizon.

• 2:40Alice Levine?

  A few minutes later, they sit down. As Richard slides a piece of paper over the table, Alan frowns. He doesn't know if he can trust this guy. He scratches at his grey beard. It's some kind of list, but it makes no sense. Dalmington, Calendar Square, reversal? What the hell is this? You said you had information on the Horizon system. Richard nervously hunches forward. I was a software engineer at Fujitsu. I worked on Horizon just after it rolled out in 2001. It's a total mess, full of bugs. These are the names of a few of them.

• 3:24Alice Levine?

  Alan's eyebrows shoot up. Are you telling me the post office knew all along? He watches Richard nervously glance over his shoulder. They've been lying to you, to the British public. For a moment, Alan can't speak. For years, he's been arguing the Horizon system is flawed. He's watched almost 700 sub-postmasters hauled in front of the courts. Families have been ripped apart, reputations shredded. And 13 people have taken their own lives. He slumps back. He's shaking. Do you have hard evidence?

• 4:11Alice Levine?

  He watches Richard tap nervously on the table. I fixed these bugs myself. This list... It's just the tip of the iceberg. Alan stares at the paper, feels his scalp tighten. A surge of anger runs through him.

• 4:30Alice Levine?

  He realizes, if this guy's telling the truth, this is proof. Proof the post office have been lying. Proof of a massive and deliberate cover-up. Finally, he's got evidence of the biggest miscarriage of justice this country has ever seen.

• 4:56Speaker 02

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• 5:40Matt Forde?

  From Audible Originals, I'm Matt Ford.

• 5:43Alice Levine?

  And I'm Alice Levine.

• 5:44Matt Forde?

  And this is British Scandal, the show where we bring you the murkiest stories that's ever happened on these odd little isles.

• 5:50Alice Levine?

  British scandals come in many shapes and sizes. Some are about money, some are about sex. They're all about power.

• 5:57Matt Forde?

  But when we look at scandals a bit closer, they turn out to be stranger, wilder, just plain weirder than we remember.

• 6:03Alice Levine?

  So we're journeying back to ask, who's to blame for what happened?

• 6:07Matt Forde?

  And when the dust settled, did anything really change?

• 6:20Alice Levine?

  So Matt, in your memory, what are the most famous miscarriages of justice in history that we haven't yet covered on British Scandal?

• 6:28Matt Forde?

  There's so many big ones. Deirdre Barlow going to prison in Coronation Street.

• 6:32Alice Levine?

  Of course.

• 6:33Matt Forde?

  Free the Weatherfield one.

• 6:34Alice Levine?

  That was big news.

• 6:36Matt Forde?

  People would put posters in their front windows and it even got raised at Prime Minister's Questions. I remember Tony Blair having to answer a question about it.

• 6:44Alice Levine?

  A soap opera character. Wow. This nation.

• 6:48Matt Forde?

  Beckham's Red Card Against Argentina, but that's international. No, that's, that one's for Interpol.

• 6:53Alice Levine?

  It's out of our hands.

• 6:56Matt Forde?

  And the worst of all, quite a few years ago now, Greg's changed the recipe to their vegetable pasty. It used to be the best pasty in the world. It was a piece of culinary perfection. Then they mucked about with it. They added peppers. They just ruined it and they refuse, despite my Twitter campaign, to go back to the original and best recipe. Is it that?

• 7:19Alice Levine?

  Justice for the short crust. Is it short crust or is it puff?

• 7:21Matt Forde?

  It's puff.

• 7:22Alice Levine?

  I'm not sure I'm going to put justice for the puff on a poster in my window. This one actually captured the mood and the sympathy of the nation. Does that help you at all?

• 7:31Matt Forde?

  Yes. Jackie Weaver and Hanford Parish Council, you do not have the authority, Alice Levine.

• 7:36Alice Levine?

  Why aren't we doing that? Okay. That's going straight to the top. But no, final clues. What if I said this one involved a village shopkeeper, a faceless corporate giant and a kind of computer system you'd find in a school IT room circa 1997?

• 7:52Matt Forde?

  Please do not tell me that that big paper clip is the villain in this story.

• 7:57Alice Levine?

  Clip, he actually made me sign an NDA, so I can't say any more. But thematically, you are on the right tracks. This story has actually been requested by so many listeners. So thank you for your emails, [email protected] if you want to suggest one. This is a story about a computer programme that ruined hundreds of lives. It's the perfect example of a David versus Goliath story, kind of the quintessential example of how you can get screwed over by the establishment. And it's a story that lots of people will be familiar with, thanks to the incredible ITV drama, Mr Bates versus the Post Office. The Post Office was the most trusted brand on the high street and then it all came tumbling down. This is episode one, A New Horizon.

• 8:40Alice Levine?

  Ten years earlier, July 2001, South Wornborough, Hampshire.

• 8:47Alice Levine?

  Forty-four-year-old Jo Hamilton opens the boot of her car, takes out boxes of scones and cakes for her stall at the Village Fate.

• 8:55Matt Forde?

  So you're a scone person?

• 8:57Alice Levine?

  I knew this was coming. Is this the true scandal?

• 8:59Matt Forde?

  I say scone.

• 9:00Alice Levine?

  Now, there'll be great debate, people listening, but there's supposedly a sort of north-south, posh-not-posh divide on this. I thought scone was posh.

• 9:09Matt Forde?

  I thought scone was posh.

• 9:11Alice Levine?

  This is the thing, I don't think there's any authority, really.

• 9:13Matt Forde?

  Neither of us are posh.

• 9:14Alice Levine?

  And what's gone on, because we're from the same place as well?

• 9:16Matt Forde?

  What's gone on?

• 9:17Alice Levine?

  What's g-gone on?

• 9:19Matt Forde?

  Oh, you're a gon person, eh? I say gon.

• 9:22Alice Levine?

  Also, really not even worth talking about, because they're not that nice.

• 9:26Matt Forde?

  They're very dry. So for international listeners, a scone is a kind of fruit bun that is rock-hard, crumbles immediately, and you have to kind of baste and paste with cream and jam to get any sort of purchase on it.

• 9:43Alice Levine?

  Jo's been up since 6am, baking to raise money for the local school and to test her recipes for the community shop she recently bought. She tacks up bunting now, pins up her price list, and lets out a quiet sigh of satisfaction. When her haulage business went under a few years back, she had to leave her old home, buy somewhere new, on a joint mortgage with her parents. It was the only way she could clear her debts. But now, she's back on track. Her community shop might be tiny, it's in the same room as the post office, but it's a fresh start, and she has big plans. All right, Jo. She looks up as Olwyn, the sub-postmaster, strides towards her.

• 10:27Alice Levine?

  She's about to cut him a slice of lemon drizzle, when he blurts out: "I thought you should be the first to know, I've decided to retire." Her stomach nods. Retire? Who's taking over the post office? Olwyn shrugs, shifting uneasily. Dunno, might have to close it. Her mouth goes dry. If the post office goes, most of her customers will go with it, and her little shop will go under. She watches him stroll away, then sits down for a moment. Slowly, a plan begins to form.

• 11:02Alice Levine?

  That night, she sits at the table with her family, tells them about Olwen leaving, then takes a steadying breath. I'm thinking of applying to take it over. For a moment, no one speaks. Her mother tilts her head, fixes her with a sympathetic look. Are you sure about this, Jo? Jo bites back irritation. She knows her mum's just being protective, after everything she's been through. I watch Olwen work every day. I step in when he's busy, Mum. It's just that, after everything, Jo, I don't want it to be too much.

• 11:41Matt Forde?

  Surely, if you're an elderly person, your dream is for your offspring to take over a post office. That's like your mate having a pub. At that age, you're like, man, I'd be straight to the front of the queue. Little book of stamps.

• 11:54Alice Levine?

  Jo's about to snap back, but her husband, David, cuts in.

• 11:58Speaker 04

  Might not be a bad idea. And we could do with the extra income.

• 12:03Alice Levine?

  Jo squeezes his hand. He works long hours for the family. She wants to do her part. She looks around the table at her parents, her two sons, and decides she's going to do everything she can to become South Wornborough's new sub-postmistress. It's time to put past failures behind her and finally prove she has what it takes to make a business a success.

• 12:35Alice Levine?

  Five months later, New Year's Eve 2001, the village post office. Jo pulls down the blind and locks the door. She steps into the post office cubicle. She's been sub-postmistress for a few months now and loves it, even if there never seem to be enough hours in the day.

• 12:57Matt Forde?

  Sub-postmaster's a funny enough name. Sub-postmistress sounds even more odd as a job title.

• 13:04Alice Levine?

  It's not right, is it, really?

• 13:05Matt Forde?

  It sounds quasi-like you're someone's bit on the side and also that there's a dominatrix angle to it. When is your wife your mistress? When she's a sub-postmistress? That is a first-class joke.

• 13:19Alice Levine?

  She glances at the till. Tonight she needs to cash up fast. The villagers' New Year's Eve party is waiting, and she's helping with the catering. She gathers up the day's receipts.

• 13:32Alice Levine?

  Jo jumps, lifts the blind and peers out into the darkness, then jolts back when something slaps against the window. She hears a man's voice bellow out. Mrs. Hamilton, I'm here to train you on the Horizon system. Did you get my email? She squints at the post office ID badge pressed against the glass. Exhales, opens the door.

• 13:57Alice Levine?

  A large man squeezes inside. She's been so busy over Christmas, she can't remember if she got the email or not. A few minutes later, he's in the post office cubicle, his face red with effort as he unpacks a large grey computer terminal and a barcode scanner. She watches his thick fingers fly over the keyboard, white text scrolling across a blue screen. What is this exactly? He keeps his eyes on the computer as he tells her. It's the new Horizon system. Think of it as the most sophisticated till in the world. Her eyes widen as coloured boxes appear on the screen. Cash withdrawal, balance inquiry, cash deposit. The trainer mutters.

• 14:42Alice Levine?

  It calculates your daily accounts at the press of a button. Tells you the total from your transactions and how much cash you have in the safe. He gestures at the pile of paper receipts on the counter. You won't have to worry about these again. This machine does it all. Jo glances at the Horizon logo. The O has lines drawn around it like a kid's drawing of the sun. She fidgets uneasily. I'm not good with computers. I've always done everything manually. He sits her down. Honestly, it's a piece of cake, love. Everything's on the database. Foolproof. Press it now to see your account. She lets her finger hover over the keyboard. The man leans in. It won't bite.

• 15:27Alice Levine?

  I do not like this guy.

• 15:29Matt Forde?

  No, I don't like that sort of tone.

• 15:32Alice Levine?

  I also don't like him leaning it. Just back up, let me have a bit of space. Jo shoots him a withering look, then takes a breath and presses. A split second later, the screen displays her account. How many stamps she's got, how much cash she's taken. She smiles. He's right, everything's here. She starts to cash up and grins. Even she can't make a mistake with this thing. The trainer pins up a number on her notice board. That's the Horizon helpline if anything goes wrong. But it won't. He heads to the door and grins. Happy New Year. Jo stares at the grey monitor, at the blinking lights on the modem.

• 16:16Alice Levine?

  She imagines all the possibilities with the time she'll save. She'll expand the shop, open a deli counter, even add a cafe. This little space could be the hub of the whole village. She switches off the system and smiles. Because now, anything is possible.

• 16:39Alice Levine?

  Two years later, December 2003, South Wombro.

• 16:45Alice Levine?

  Jo loads up the white van with boxes of fish and chips. She's been organising hot food deliveries to elderly and housebound customers for a few weeks now. It's her latest idea, and it's a hit. She heads back inside her shop and cafe. She takes in the little bistro tables, the small vases of flowers. Feels a pang of pride. Business is booming. She heads over to the Horizon terminal, starts to cash up. It's been such a help to her these past two years. She can't believe she ever managed without it. She starts typing. The figures on the screen swim in front of her eyes.

• 17:25Alice Levine?

  For some reason, it says that her day's takings are £2,032.67. She hasn't got anything like that. She stumbles over to the safe.

• 17:40Alice Levine?

  She counts: £340.97. She must have made a mistake. Her chest tightens. Bloody hell, Jo, only you can muck this up. She scrabbles on the notice board for the Horizon helpline number, finds it buried under a pile of Post-it notes. Her heart hammers as she rings.

• 18:05Alice Levine?

  As soon as she hears a voice on the other end, she blurts it all out at once. The figures on the screen don't match with her takings. She's done something wrong. Feels a wave of heat rush to her face as the woman says:

• 18:17Speaker 04

  Um, I've never heard of anything like this before.

• 18:21Alice Levine?

  The sound of the keyboard tapping on the other end of the line makes her head pound. Then she hears the woman's voice again.

• 18:29Speaker 04

  Okay, re-declare your stock holdings, reverse the difference. Don't worry, it'll balance out.

• 18:35Alice Levine?

  Jo swallows hard. So, then, I just press the green tick?

• 18:41Speaker 04

  Yes.

• 18:42Alice Levine?

  Jo's hand shakes as she presses the screen. Her heart jumps and she reels back, almost dropping the phone. Here's her terrified voice blurt out: Oh my god, it's doubled. It now says, "In the safe, I've got £4,188.53." I don't, I haven't. The woman pauses briefly.

• 19:05Speaker 04

  Well, it's been re-declared now, so it's final. Any shortfall is your responsibility, I'm afraid.

• 19:18Alice Levine?

  Jo lets the receiver slip from her ear, stares open-mouthed at the screen. £4,000. How is that possible? She goes through every receipt, every docket. Nothing adds up. She can hardly breathe. She's cold and shaking as the terrifying truth hits her. Somehow, she has to find over £4,000 before the end of the month. And she has no idea how she's going to do it.

• 19:57Alice Levine?

  Three years later, 2006, 5:20 AM, Jo's Cottage. Jo turns over in bed, tries to push away the image of a computer screen swimming in front of her. A jumble of coloured boxes swirl in her brain. Then her eyes snap open. Nausea hits her as she remembers how much debt she's in. She'd paid back the four grand shortfall three years ago from her own savings. But most of the time she cashes out, she's short. Sometimes she's out by a few pounds, other times it's a few hundred. She has no idea what the hell she's doing wrong.

• 20:39Matt Forde?

  There's so much unique Britishness in this story because the post office is a unique British brand and also we still have a slight deference to authority and a desire to apologise even when we're not in the wrong. Those three things together are a perfect storm.

• 20:55Alice Levine?

  She swings her legs out of bed, cradling her arm that is throbbing with constant pain. She tries to get dressed without waking David, drags on some clothes that hang loose. Most of her wardrobe no longer fits. She's been surviving on out-of-date food from her shop, scraping off the mould from vegetables, sometimes skipping meals altogether, lying to her family that she's already eaten so they'll have enough for themselves. She's maxed out on her credit cards, behind with her loan, and she's just had to cancel the family holiday. She made up some story about the travel company being overbooked. Five hours later, she's dead on her feet.

• 21:39Alice Levine?

  She just wants to go home, have a bath and an early night. She answers the phone with a hoarse voice. "South Wambro Post Office."

• 21:49Speaker 04

  "Mrs Hamilton."

• 21:50Alice Levine?

  She feels her back tense, but a woman's cheerful voice tells her she's calling from Post Office HQ.

• 21:56Speaker 04

  "Just a courtesy call to let you know you've reached the threshold for the amount of money you're legally allowed to keep in the safe."

• 22:03Alice Levine?

  Jo's mind scrambles. She stutters out. "W-what do you mean?" The woman carries on.

• 22:11Speaker 04

  "Nothing to worry about. According to Horizon, you've reached the limit for insurance purposes. I'll send a post office van on Friday to collect the money, no problem."

• 22:20Alice Levine?

  She feels sick, starts to sweat. She knows there's less than two grand in the safe. She hears her own trembling voice ask, "R-remind me, what's the limit?" She takes in the brief pause on the other end of the line before the woman replies.

• 22:40Speaker 04

  "Twenty-five thousand pounds. Just have it ready for our driver to collect on Friday."

• 22:51Alice Levine?

  Jo's knees buckle. She stares at the Horizon screen, thinks back to all the times she's pressed that green declare button, hoping the system would correct itself. She's been wrong. She can't move. For a few minutes, she stares into the distance. She twists her wedding ring as she works out what to do. She pulls down the shutter on the counter, opens the safe, counts the money again. One thousand nine hundred pounds exactly. "No, no, no, no." Tears sting her eyes. She's shaking. She's got four days, four days to sort this mess, four days to cover twenty-five thousand pounds.

• 23:38Alice Levine?

  And right now, there's only one person who can help her do it.

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• 24:58Alice Levine?

  That night, South Wombro.

• 25:01Alice Levine?

  Izzy Hogg kicks off her shoes, pours herself a glass of wine, and lets her head rest on the back of the chair. She's spent the day in Winchester Court defending shoplifters and car thieves. She's exhausted. Right now, all she wants is a takeaway and a quiet night in. She lets out a sigh, puts down her glass, and pads to the door. Her eyes widen with shock as Joe barges in. I need help, Izzy. I've been trying for months to get the figures to Talion. I can't get the hang of it, and now I'm in real trouble. Izzy follows Joe inside, reels with shock. They've been friends for years, but she's never seen Joe look so ill.

• 25:44Alice Levine?

  She's ashen-faced, sweating, babbling. Izzy sits her down, pours her a glass of wine, pushes aside her pizza menu, and grabs a notepad.

• 25:55Matt Forde?

  I love the meat feast and onion rings. Now wedges are pointless. Chicken kickers and four cookies and a Pepsi Max. Keep the canaries down.

• 26:05Alice Levine?

  Joe, take a breath and tell me exactly what's happened. She scribbles down some notes as Joe explains how she can't get her accounts to balance on the Horizon system. Izzy looks up. Horizon? What's that? It's the computer. It calculates everything automatically, but I keep coming up short. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've always been bad with numbers, but this is just... Izzy watches her wipe tears from her face. Sorry, Izzy. Izzy leans forward. Joe, how long's this been going on? Three years. Izzy puts a hand on Joe's arm. Isn't there someone at the post office who could help? I've called the Horizon helpline over and over again, but they just say to me, "Nobody else has any problems." I feel so stupid.

• 26:50Alice Levine?

  Izzy stares at her friend, then gently asks, "How much money is missing, Jo?" She watches Jo dab at her eyes. Twenty-three thousand, one hundred pounds. Izzy stares, and when Jo meets her eyes pleading, she sees the terror in them. You won't tell my family, will you? I don't want them to worry. Izzy exhales, softening. You've been keeping this a secret? Oh, Jo. She watches Jo cover her face and sob, noticing properly now how thin and frail she looks. Izzy reaches over and hugs her friend. As a criminal defence lawyer, she's seen it all. She can spot a guilty person a mile off.

• 27:35Alice Levine?

  But Jo is one of the most honest people she's ever met. Izzy pulls back. "We will find a solution. Are you a member of a union?" National Federation of Subpostmasters. Do you think I should ring them? Izzy nods firmly. "First thing in the morning. Tell them everything you've told me. They'll know your rights. That's our starting point."

• 27:59Matt Forde?

  This sort of stuff doesn't always occur to people that if you've got some sort of dispute at work and you're a member of a union, always tell your union. And if you've got any sort of issue, and I know where this story's going to go and that it doesn't always help, but contact your MP. Like, there are systems in place. They don't always work, but alert people. Make a fuss.

• 28:18Alice Levine?

  And on a really basic level, tell a friend. I mean, it's so lonely to be in that position where you think this thing is out of control. And I think it's the great irony of this story that the kind of people who wanted to run these hubs of small towns or villages are civic-minded, honest people. And so their worst nightmare is doing something untrustworthy or irregular. This thought that this could be misread, oh, it just, it was the end of the world.

• 28:49Alice Levine?

  Izzy pastes on a reassuring smile as Jo thanks her. When she's gone, Izzy studies her notepad. This isn't good. Jo could be in a whole heap of legal trouble if this isn't sorted. Izzy can't let this drag on and hurt her friend any longer. Tomorrow, she'll clear her diary. She'll make sure Jo gets through this, no matter what.

• 29:16Matt Forde?

  But first, Meat Feast, chicken kickers, Doughballs, Pepsi Max.

• 29:25Alice Levine?

  The following morning, village post office. Jo walks behind the counter, takes a deep breath, then dials the union number. A few seconds later, a woman answers. Jo swallows hard.

• 29:40Speaker 04

  I've only got £1,900 in the safe, not 25, and the post office is sending a van.

• 29:47Alice Levine?

  She listens to the brief silence on the other end of the line. Here's the woman's puzzled voice.

• 29:52Speaker 04

  Are you saying you're missing over £23,000?

• 29:56Alice Levine?

  Jo's throat tightens, then the words tumble out.

• 30:00Speaker 04

  That's the thing. Yeah, I don't, I don't know. I just, I just lost track.

• 30:05Alice Levine?

  The woman cuts in.

• 30:06Speaker 04

  Could one of your staff have stolen it? Maybe one of your family?

• 30:10Alice Levine?

  Jo gasps.

• 30:11Speaker 04

  God, no. There's just me. I just can't get my figures to add up on Horizon.

• 30:15Alice Levine?

  But the woman's voice is cold.

• 30:17Speaker 04

  The Horizon system does not make mistakes, Mrs. Hamilton.

• 30:21Alice Levine?

  Jo hears another pause.

• 30:23Speaker 04

  Given the amount of money that's missing, we're going to have to ask the post office to carry out a full audit of your branch immediately.

• 30:32Alice Levine?

  Jo reels back, shocked. Her heart smacks in her chest.

• 30:36Speaker 04

  I'm also obliged to inform you, Mrs. Hamilton, that you are personally liable for any missing money. The audit office will be in touch.

• 30:47Matt Forde?

  Hang on. These guys are the union. They're meant to be on her side. They're meant to be fomenting revolution and getting everyone out on strike, not siding with a man. Here I am, saying get in touch with your union and your MP. Terrible advice.

• 31:00Alice Levine?

  You've made Jo look a fool. She blinks around the post office cubicle, stares at the photo of her sons on the wall. She can't hide this from her family any longer.

• 31:12Alice Levine?

  A few minutes later, she walks into the cottage, heads into the kitchen, sits her husband and parents down, takes a deep breath, and starts to explain about the audit.

• 31:24Alice Levine?

  Some money's gone missing. I'm sure the auditors will find it. But if they don't... She grips the table. I'll have to pay it back myself. David frowns at her, puzzled. Well, how much is it? Jo feels her chin tremble. She bites her dry lips. Twenty-three thousand. He reels back. His face drains of all colour. How the hell are we gonna find twenty-three grand? She tries to steady her voice. It can't be anything like that. It could only be two or three grand tops. But it's still a lot.

• 32:05Alice Levine?

  I'm maxed out on my credit cards, on the loan. David's eyes bulge. What bloody loan? What the hell's been going on, Jo?

• 32:16Matt Forde?

  See, maybe you shouldn't tell anyone anything. Because head office have been useless, the union have been useless, her husband's not taking it well. Maybe bottling things up the British way is the best way to deal with it.

• 32:28Alice Levine?

  You have a unique ability to take these stories and really quickly see the lesson to be learnt. And I, and I think that is this magic. She tries to fight back her tears. It's all my fault. I'm so sorry. I got into such a muddle. She gulps back a sob as her mother reaches for her hand. Don't worry, love. We'll scrape the money together, somehow. She blinks around at her family, takes in their shocked faces. She hates what she's done, what she's putting them through. But at least it's no longer a secret. All she can do now is hope and pray that the auditor finds that missing money.

• 33:19Alice Levine?

  The following day, South Wombro. Post office auditor Graham Branda steps out from his black Audi, buttons up his long black overcoat, and strides up the street towards the village post office. He's here to do an audit.

• 33:34Matt Forde?

  Do you think he got that card so he could say, "I put the Audi in audit"? You can't spell "audit" without "Audi", and you can't spell "audit" without "I" and "you", and "I am here to investigate you".

• 33:47Alice Levine?

  He's here to find out why £23,000 has mysteriously disappeared from his branch. He stops outside the post office now, takes in the whitewashed walls, the shrubs in pots. It all looks very neat and tidy, very respectable. But he's not fooled by any of it. He's been a security manager for six years now. He's seen it all: fake robberies, fraud, false accounting. If anything dodgy's going on here, he'll find it. He tightens the knot on his tie and marches inside.

• 34:25Alice Levine?

  A few seconds later, the sub-post mistress, Mrs. Hamilton, appears. He takes in her smiling face, her neatly buttoned blouse. She looks like butter wouldn't melt. He'll be the judge of that. He holds out his hand.

• 34:40Speaker 04

  I'd like the coors to the safe, please, Mrs. Hamilton.

• 34:43Alice Levine?

  He notices her hands tremble when she hands them over. Tells her to go home and wait. The last thing he wants is her looking over his shoulder. He'll question her when he's ready. He spends the next two and a half hours going through her accounts. He checks and double-checks her transactions on the Horizon system, goes over its history, counts every penny in the safe, then heads over to interview her.

• 35:10Alice Levine?

  A short while later, he sits in Mrs Hamilton's kitchen, opposite her and her mother. She's fussing around, pouring him tea, offering him cakes and biscuits. He can see the fear in her eyes. He cuts to the chase.

• 35:25Speaker 04

  Would it surprise you to know that the audit has shown a very large discrepancy, Mrs Hamilton?

• 35:30Alice Levine?

  She's shaking, white as a sheet. I tried to count every penny coming in, but I couldn't get it to match. He narrows his eyes as she starts to falter. He knows Horizon inside out. He used it himself when he was a branch manager. It never makes mistakes. He leans forward.

• 35:52Speaker 04

  Where is it, Mrs Hamilton? Where's the money?

• 35:59Matt Forde?

  This feels very full-on, for a man who surely is meant to be there with an open mind.

• 36:03Alice Levine?

  Also, you're not the police. You can send me a letter that says, "There is a discrepancy", but you don't get to interrogate me over biscuits?

• 36:10Matt Forde?

  No cake for you, pal.

• 36:12Alice Levine?

  Her chin starts to wobble. I thought you'd find it and find out what I'm doing wrong. He watches her wipe at her eyes. Crocodile tears. He's seen it all before. He lets out a long breath.

• 36:27Speaker 04

  A substantial amount of public money is missing. I have no other option than to start a formal investigation. In the meantime, you're suspended, with immediate effect.

• 36:40Alice Levine?

  She's staring at him, her jaw hanging. Suspended? He grabs his briefcase and glares down at her.

• 36:48Speaker 04

  I think you should have a long think about how you're going to pay this back, Mrs Hamilton.

• 36:58Alice Levine?

  December 2007, the community shop and café.

• 37:03Alice Levine?

  Jo clears empty plates from the tables. She's been here since half eight and she just wants to hide from everyone. But she has to keep going. Earn enough to pay the post office what she owes.

• 37:17Alice Levine?

  She glances over at the post office cubicle. Wishes it wasn't in the same room. The replacement sub-postmaster glares at her. She feels her face flush as she hears someone whispering behind her. How she's been suspended for stealing thousands of pounds.

• 37:34Speaker 04

  I need sign for this one, Jo.

• 37:36Alice Levine?

  Jo looks up, sees the postman holding out a letter. She lets her shoulders drop. Scribbles her signature, turns the letter over and recognizes the postmark immediately. Head office. She tears it open and stares in disbelief. Failure to comply. Mrs Josephine Hamilton. South Wornborough Post Office. Total deficit owing. Thirty-six thousand, six hundred and forty-four pounds and eighty-nine pence. She gasps. Given the serious nature of the shortfall, Post Office Limited has no other option than to prosecute for theft and false accounting.

• 38:21Alice Levine?

  Anger floods her. Theft? She might have made mistakes, but she's not a thief. She snatches off her apron and grabs her coat. She bangs on Izzy's door till it opens, shoves the letter into her friend's hands. They're saying I stole it. I've made mistakes, I admit it, but not this much. I've been living on fresh air, Izzy, to pay them back. Cancelled our holiday, can't even afford clothes that fit. What the hell do they think I've done with thirty-six grand? She takes a shaky breath and lifts her chin. If they want to call the police on me, fine, I'll tell them everything. I've got nothing to hide. But Izzy's eyes stay on the letter.

• 39:04Alice Levine?

  When she finally looks up, her face is pale. They don't need the police, Jo.

• 39:11Alice Levine?

  They can take you to court themselves.

• 39:16Matt Forde?

  This one of the mad things about this story is so many people don't realise the actual powers that the post office as an institution has.

• 39:23Alice Levine?

  They have in-house prosecutors. They essentially have their own police force. Other government departments obviously run their own investigations, but they have to work alongside the police and the CPS. The post office are a law unto themselves essentially.

• 39:38Alice Levine?

  Jo feels herself sway. Court? She slumps into a chair, her breathing ragged. A pain shoots across her chest as Izzy breaks the devastating news. But you have to pay this money, Jo. Every single penny. Because if you don't, you're going to prison.

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• 41:07Speaker 10

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• 41:44Alice Levine?

  A few weeks later, Village Hall. Jo pushes through the rows of chairs, tries to ignore the whispers around her. She steadies herself, steps up onto the stage. She blinks out at the mass of faces. There must be sixty people here at least. Neighbours, friends, customers. Her cheeks burn with humiliation as she clears her throat.

• 42:10Alice Levine?

  I know I made mistakes cashing up. A snort cuts through the room. And the rest.

• 42:18Matt Forde?

  Don't heckle now, mate. I mean, heckling anywhere is bad behaviour. This is not a gig.

• 42:23Alice Levine?

  She swallows hard. But I have no idea where the money's gone. I promise on my life I have not stolen one penny. But it did happen under my watch. And I take full responsibility.

• 42:39Alice Levine?

  She stands in the awkward silence. A middle-aged man shouts from the back of the room.

• 42:45Speaker 04

  Where's it gone then, Jo? Ran off with the milkman's cat?

• 42:49Matt Forde?

  Tough crowd.

• 42:50Alice Levine?

  And it's a home crowd. Laughter ripples through the hall. Her head feels light. I've let you all down. I've been stupid, that's all I know. An elderly man in a tweed jacket, Mr. Clydeton, gets up from his seat, jabs a finger at her.

• 43:09Speaker 04

  It's not stupid, it's bloody deliberate if you ask me. Us pensioners will be stuck if the post office goes under. And it's your fault.

• 43:17Alice Levine?

  She swallows back tears. She wants to run, but she's stuck to the spot. Then one of her regular customers, a stout woman in a purple hat, stands up. You wouldn't forget her, would you?

• 43:28Matt Forde?

  She looked like a Quality Street.

• 43:31Alice Levine?

  Oh, stop being such an old fart. You know as well as I do, Jo would never steal any money. She watches a few people nod. Sees Mr. Clydeton sit, muttering. Then feels Izzy's hand on her shoulder, gently guiding her to a chair. She sits down, shaking as Izzy steps forward. Jo's remortgaged her house. She's raised thirty thousand pounds. But she's still six thousand short. She needs to pay it all if she's got any chance of avoiding prison. She holds her breath, feels the room crackle with tension. The silence is broken when the vicar gets to her feet. Jo is the backbone of this village. She's always been there for us.

• 44:18Alice Levine?

  She hears a murmur of agreement run around the room as the vicar goes on. So now it's our turn to help her. Her eyes brim with tears as one after the other people get to their feet and start pledging money to help. She hears her own teary voice thank them over and over. She's never felt more grateful to the people of this village, or more humble. But Jo's never been more ashamed. In a few weeks, she'll pay back every single penny, plead guilty to false accounting, live forever with a tarnished reputation,

• 44:59Alice Levine?

  and maybe then, put this entire mess behind her, once and for all.

• 45:12Alice Levine?

  Fourth of February 2008, Winchester Crown Court.

• 45:17Alice Levine?

  Jo walks into the courtroom clutching a small overnight bag. She tries to breathe through the sudden pain in her chest. A few weeks ago, she pleaded guilty here to 14 counts of false accounting. Today, she's being sentenced. She's arranged to pay the money back, but yesterday, her probation officer had told her to expect a jail sentence.

• 45:41Matt Forde?

  I mean, this is mad because if she's guilty of anything, it's just of making an innocent mistake. She didn't know how those numbers weren't adding up, and she's done everything in her power to pay that money back. It's mad that that could then lead to a custodial sentence.

• 45:55Alice Levine?

  And that it's being regarded as serious financial misconduct.

• 45:58Matt Forde?

  It'd be like getting arrested for going overdrawn. You'd be like, "Well, I paid the overdraft off." They're like, "No, no, no. You went into the red for a bit."

• 46:04Alice Levine?

  We know what you're up to. She follows the guards to the dock, sits down and waits for the judge. She searches the public gallery for David and her parents, then gasps at the sight in front of her. The whole gallery is full of supporters from the village. Some of them wave at her now, give her the thumbs up. She can't believe her eyes. There must be 70 people here, more even. She smiles, feels a ray of hope. Then she spots the auditor, Graham Branda, at the back, flanked by post office lawyers, and he's scowling at her.

• 46:44Alice Levine?

  The judge enters. Jo nervously picks at her hands as her vicar steps onto the witness stand.

• 46:50Speaker 04

  Your Honour, look at the gallery. These people are here because Jo is kind and caring. In many ways, she's more of a vicar in the village than I am. If she went to prison, the whole village would lose out.

• 47:04Matt Forde?

  Let us pray.

• 47:05Alice Levine?

  Jo watches the judge thumb through the thick folder of references. His face is unreadable. His eyes narrow when he looks at her.

• 47:13Speaker 04

  Why are you here, Mrs Hamilton?

• 47:17Alice Levine?

  She lowers her head, then looks back at him, tears streaming down her face.

• 47:23Speaker 04

  I don't know. I got in a muddle.

• 47:26Alice Levine?

  She feels his eyes boring into her.

• 47:29Speaker 04

  This was no muddle. This was deliberate fraud. I am sentencing you...

• 47:36Alice Levine?

  She grips onto the bench in front of her. Blood pounds in her ears.

• 47:41Speaker 04

  To a 12-month community order. You must also repay the full amount owing to the post office of £36,644.89.

• 47:57Alice Levine?

  Relief floods Jo. She blinks up at the gallery, watches people hug each other. She wipes at her face as it sinks in. She isn't going to prison.

• 48:11Alice Levine?

  A few minutes later, she stands outside the courtroom as well wishers crowd around her. A local press photographer takes pictures. She tries to smile, but Graham Brander is marching towards her.

• 48:24Speaker 04

  Don't take photos of her, she's a criminal.

• 48:28Alice Levine?

  She feels her jaw drop. She wants to snap back, but her mouth dries as she realises, he's right, she is a criminal now. She might have been spared prison, but she's still been found guilty. She's 51 years old and her name is stained. Her business is wrecked and she's got 35 grands worth of debt hanging over her family. But she knows she didn't steal that money. So she shows the camera a bright, polite smile and silently vows, she will find out

• 49:09Alice Levine?

  where that money went, who stole it, and when she does, she will make them pay.

• 49:24Alice Levine?

  From Audible Originals and Samistat Audio, this is the first episode in our series, The Post Office Scandal. A quick note about our dialogue, in most cases, we can't know exactly what was said, but all our dramatisations are based on historical research. British Scandal was hosted by me, Alice Levine.

• 49:41Matt Forde?

  And me, Matt Ford.

• 49:42Alice Levine?

  Written by Karen Laws. Additional writing by Alice Levine and Matt Ford. Our story editor was James Maniac. Sound design by Rich Evans. Our engineer was Jai Williams. For Samistat, our series producer was Chica Ayers. Our assistant producer was Louise Mason. Our senior producers were Joe Sykes and Dashalys Itzina. Executive producers for Audible with Theodora Leludis and Astell Doyle.

• 50:14Speaker 11

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• 50:57Speaker 11

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