Former Hull sub-postmistress devastated by low compensation after wrongful conviction
Janet Skinner, who was convicted back in 2007 has been offered 15% of what she asked for
A woman from Hull wrongly jailed in the Post Office Horizon scandal says she's devastated after being offered just a fraction of the compensation she claimed.
Janet Skinner, who was convicted back in 2007 and later temporarily paralysed due to the stress, has been offered only 15% of what she asked for.
Her conviction was quashed three years ago, but she says her life has been changed forever. Janet said:
"By the time I got to Hull Royal Hospital after feeling immense stress from moving house and ended up in prison, I couldn't feel the middle part of my body. It was like it disappeared and I felt like I was on a ship, It was a really bizarre feeling. And within 24 hours I was paralysed from the neck down. Doctors told me i'd never walk again.
"It took me two years to get out of a wheelchair permanently, just through little bits of walking intense physiotherapy three times a week, hydrotherapy, I've had acupuncture, you name it, I've had it.
"When I first got my letter, it was telling me what they weren't allowing, it was like a kick in the teeth. My solicitor and I submitted a letter to the government a couple of weeks back, rejecting what they've sent us. It's been a case of backwards and forwards and backwards and forwards since. "
A Government spokesperson said:
"We pay tribute to all the postmasters including Janet who have suffered from the Horizon scandal, which is why the amount paid to postmasters has increased fivefold to over £1 billion as part of our ongoing commitment to deliver justice to victims as swiftly as possible.
“While we do not comment on individual cases, we take every effort to make full and fair offers to all claimants, and an independent dispute resolution process is available to all applicants who are not content with their offer.”