Wed, 09 Jul 2025

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 Bullying, anorexia, trauma - how the Post Office scandal hurt children

The children of wrongly-accused subpostmasters faced trauma and hardship but are now being promised compensation.

* Millie Castleton's family was targeted by their community after her father lost his job as a post office manager due to faulty software allegations.
* At 8, Millie suffered bullying, an eating disorder, and dropped out of university due to the impact on her mental health.
* The inquiry report highlights over 100 families who suffered similar experiences, with children shunned by friends, experiencing financial hardship, and watching their parents fall apart under the strain.
* Some children were left with long-term emotional scars, including self-loathing, depression, and trust issues.
* Janine Powell's daughter was forced to live with a friend due to her mother's conviction, leading to mental illness.
* Robert Thomson's children were bullied at school while his wife became reclusive and depressed.
* Mahesh Kumar Kalia's family was "dysfunctional" after his father's wrongful conviction, resulting in 17 years of estrangement.
* The government has confirmed a scheme to compensate close family members who suffered serious adverse consequences from the scandal.
* Rebekah Foot's charity Lost Chances supports children affected by the scandal and welcomes compensation for those who had their education disrupted or experienced financial hardship.
* An expert in law and ethics, Professor Richard Moorhead, says compensation will not right the wrongs but hopes it will make a substantial difference to improving the chances of affected children.
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