Wed, 05 Nov 2025

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 Oldest victim of Post Office scandal, 92, receives final payout

"I can settle up my affairs. I can turn the heating up full blast, and that will be wonderful," 92-year-old Betty Brown told the BBC.
The settlement comes after campaigner Sir Alan Bates agreed to a multi-million-pound compensation figure from the Post Office. Betty described it as "at last, after 26 years, they've recognised justice" but added "pity they took so long." She was one of the original 555 victims who took part in the landmark group legal action against the Post Office and said it was "fantastic" that Sir Alan had received his final settlement too. Betty described him as her "hero". The compensation scheme, which includes those who took part in the Group Litigation Order, offers a fixed sum of £75,000 or the option to pursue their own settlement. Betty originally received just under a third of what she'd claimed for but after rejecting 70% and taking her case to an independent panel, she ended up with about 95% of what she originally claimed. The government figures show that over 9,100 victims have now been paid out £1.2bn across all compensation schemes, including the latest settlement.
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