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Shingadia, a 63-year-old shopkeeper in Upper Bucklebury, Berkshire, recalls the troubled times when he was ensnared in the controversy surrounding the faulty Horizon system
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Despite his conviction for false accounting and a subsequent suspended jail sentence, Princess Kate and her family stood by him
In the midst of the UK Post Office scandal, involving a flawed IT accounting system, an Indian-origin postmaster, Hasmukh Shingadia, shares his heartfelt account of how the Middleton family, particularly Princess Kate, provided unwavering support during his ordeal.
Shingadia, a 63-year-old shopkeeper in Upper Bucklebury, Berkshire, recalls the troubled times when he was ensnared in the controversy surrounding the faulty Horizon system. Despite his conviction for false accounting and a subsequent suspended jail sentence, Princess Kate and her family stood by him.
The village of Upper Bucklebury holds significance as the residence of Kate’s family, and Shingadia vividly remembers Kate as a teenager. Remarkably, he was even invited to the royal wedding of Princess Kate to Prince William in April 2011. However, the joyous occasion was followed by legal troubles for Shingadia, leading to his conviction.
His conviction was eventually overturned in July 2021, with the Middleton family joining a celebratory tea party at Bucklebury Memorial Hall. Shingadia expressed his gratitude, stating, “They continued to come into my shop and spend money here. Even after Kate got engaged, she’d still pop in. Not everybody did that, and some locals shunned me.”
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Downing Street signals the intention to introduce new legislation promptly, aiming to exonerate all victims within weeks and provide compensation by the end of the year
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Princess Kate’s enduring support serves as a testament to the resilience of those impacted by this historic injustice
Shingadia’s story gains prominence as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addresses the House of Commons, promising new legislation to exonerate all Post Office branch managers wrongly accused due to the Horizon system. Sunak labels this scandal as the “greatest miscarriage of justice in our nation’s history” and pledges swift exoneration and compensation.
Reflecting on his traumatic experience, Shingadia reveals the toll it took on his mental and emotional well-being, stating, “It was horrible, not only for me but my family as well. We all went through hell. I had suicidal thoughts. I’m still dealing with the fallout emotionally and mentally.”
Encouraged by the recent developments, including the new legislation, Shingadia expresses hope for progress. He credits the awareness brought by the ITV drama ‘Mr Bates Vs the Post Office,’ which highlighted the issue dating back to the 1990s.
Official data from 2012 reveals a significant number of branch managers of Indian heritage in England and Wales, totaling 1,547. The flawed Horizon accounting system, dating back to the 1990s, affected government-owned Post Office branches.
Downing Street signals the intention to introduce new legislation promptly, aiming to exonerate all victims within weeks and provide compensation by the end of the year. Princess Kate’s enduring support serves as a testament to the resilience of those impacted by this historic injustice.
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