Post Office scandal: Former postmaster’s joy after conviction quashed

Image caption, Rab Thomson was convicted in 2006 and sentenced to 180 hours of community service

By Katie Hunter

BBC Scotland reporter

A former sub-postmaster wrongly accused of embezzlement during the post office IT scandal has had his conviction overturned.

Rab Thomson, 64, from Alva, Clackmannanshire, said he was “excited and emotional” by the news.

Mr Thomson, who was convicted in 2006, is the fifth person in Scotland to have their post office conviction quashed.

The scandal has been described as the most widespread British miscarriage of justice in modern times.

More than 700 post office branch managers across the UK were prosecuted on the basis of a faulty IT system called Horizon which made it look like money was missing when it was not.

Mr Thomson took over the post office in Cambus, near Alloa, from his mother Margaret around 2000.

He was prosecuted after an audit found an apparent shortfall of £5,700 and sentenced to 180 hours of community service.

Mr Thomson’s mother died before he could officially clear his name.

Image source, Rab Thomson

Image caption, Rab Thomson’s mother died before he had the chance to clear his name

His case was one of six referred to the High Court as a potential miscarriage of justice in November 2022.

His appeal was due to be heard on 1 February but the Crown Office decided earlier this week it would not oppose it and he was cleared administratively on Wednesday.

The Post Office has been contacted for comment.