R v Sheila Coultas & Anor.

R v Sheila Coultas & Anor.

The convictions are unsafe because the prosecutions relied wholly on Horizon system data, which was unreliable, and there was a stark failure of disclosure by Post Office Limited regarding known defects and ongoing losses, amounting to an abuse of process.

Parties
Applicant: Sheila Coultas; Applicant: Victor Ingham; Respondent: Post Office Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
11 September 2024
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment on Appeal Against Conviction
Outcome
appeal allowed; convictions quashed
Legal Topics
Abuse of Process, False Accounting, Theft, Disclosure Obligations, Unsafe Conviction
Criminal Law Criminal Procedure Abuse of Process False Accounting Theft Disclosure Obligations Unsafe Conviction

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Parties

Sheila Coultas

Applicant

Victor Ingham

Applicant

Post Office Limited

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Judgment on Appeal Against Conviction

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the convictions of the applicants are unsafe due to reliance on unreliable Horizon computer system data
  2. 2 Whether there was an abuse of process due to failure of disclosure by Post Office Limited

Ratio Decidendi

The convictions are unsafe because the prosecutions relied wholly on Horizon system data, which was unreliable, and there was a stark failure of disclosure by Post Office Limited regarding known defects and ongoing losses, amounting to an abuse of process.

Court Disposition

appeal allowed; convictions quashed

Orders

  • Long extension of time granted for appeal applications.
  • Leave to appeal granted.