What was the Post Office Horizon IT scandal?

The Post Office Horizon IT scandal involved thousands of sub-postmasters who were wrongly accused of theft and fraud due to systemic errors in the Horizon accounting software.

How did the Post Office scandal affect Jonathan Armstrong?

Jonathan Armstrong's life was destroyed by the scandal, leading to a mental breakdown, suicide attempts, and his death before receiving full compensation.

What was the outcome for victims of the Post Office scandal?

Many victims faced prosecution, imprisonment, financial ruin, severe mental health issues, and social ostracization, with some even losing their lives.

Home / Crime and Justice / Family's Heartbreak: Post Office Scandal's Devastating Toll

Family's Heartbreak: Post Office Scandal's Devastating Toll

5 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Sub-postmaster's life destroyed by Post Office IT scandal.
Innocent victim died before receiving full compensation.
Scandal led to mental breakdown, ostracization, and suicide attempts.

Family's Heartbreak: Post Office Scandal's Devastating Toll

The Post Office Horizon IT scandal has continued to shatter lives, with a recent BBC Breakfast segment detailing the tragic story of former sub-postmaster Jonathan Armstrong. Despite his innocence, his life was irrevocably damaged by the scandal, culminating in a suicide attempt and a heart attack that claimed his life before he received full compensation.

Jonathan, who had fled political unrest in Zimbabwe for a new life in the UK, became a sub-postmaster in Bexhill-on-Sea in 2006. Though his branch won an award, the subsequent audits, driven by the faulty Horizon system, led to accusations of theft. This resulted in a mental breakdown, a period of hospitalization, and community ostracization, leaving him a "broken man."

His widow, Sarah, and daughter, Becky, shared their harrowing experience, emphasizing that their lives were never the same. They spoke of the immense desperation and the devastating impact on Jonathan, who became a shell of his former self. The family's testimony underscores the profound suffering and loss experienced by thousands affected by what is now recognized as Britain's worst miscarriage of justice.