Ambrose & Ors v Post Office Ltd [2021] EWCA Crim 1443 (07 October 2021)

Ambrose & Ors v Post Office Ltd [2021] EWCA Crim 1443 (07 October 2021)

The convictions of all twelve appellants are unsafe because the prosecutions relied on Horizon system data, which was unreliable, and Post Office Limited failed in its duties of investigation and disclosure, resulting in unfair trials and prosecutions that were an affront to justice under both categories of abuse of process.

Citation
[2021] EWCA Crim 1443
Parties
Appellant: Robert Ambrose; Appellant: John Armstrong; Appellant: Timothy Brentnall; Appellant: Gurdeep Singh Dhale; Appellant: John Dickson; Appellant: Jerry Hosi; Appellant: Rizwan Manjra; Appellant: Abiodun Omotoso; Appellant: Carina Price (née Dowland); Appellant: Sami Sabet; Appellant: Hasmukh Shingadia; Appellant: Malcolm Watkins; Respondent: Post Office Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
07 October 2021
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment
Outcome
Appeals allowed; convictions quashed.
Legal Topics
Abuse of Process, Disclosure Obligations, Unsafe Convictions, Computer Evidence, Fair Trial, Public Conscience
Criminal Law Abuse of Process Miscarriage of Justice Disclosure Obligations Unsafe Convictions Computer Evidence Fair Trial Public Conscience

Case Brief

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Parties

Robert Ambrose

Appellant

John Armstrong

Appellant

Timothy Brentnall

Appellant

Gurdeep Singh Dhale

Appellant

John Dickson

Appellant

Jerry Hosi

Appellant

Rizwan Manjra

Appellant

Abiodun Omotoso

Appellant

Carina Price (née Dowland)

Appellant

Sami Sabet

Appellant

Hasmukh Shingadia

Appellant

Malcolm Watkins

Appellant

Post Office Limited

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether convictions based on Horizon system data are unsafe due to failures of investigation and disclosure
  2. 2 Whether prosecution constituted abuse of process under category 1 (unfair trial) and category 2 (affront to justice)

Ratio Decidendi

The convictions of all twelve appellants are unsafe because the prosecutions relied on Horizon system data, which was unreliable, and Post Office Limited failed in its duties of investigation and disclosure, resulting in unfair trials and prosecutions that were an affront to justice under both categories of abuse of process.

Court Disposition

Appeals allowed; convictions quashed.

Orders

  • Extension of time granted.
  • Leave to appeal against conviction granted.