Colin Stewart Smith

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Colin Stewart Smith was a sub-postmaster accused of embezzlement of £12,680.88 on the basis of evidence from the Horizon computer system. He started having issues with his accounts in 2008 and had contacted the Horizon helpdesk. His concerns were dismissed by the helpdesk, and to resolve discrepancies he made adjustments to show that the shortfall flagged by Horizon was made up by check. He initially plead not guilty, but changed his plea to guilty. He reportedly made admissions that he was taking money from the branch to keep the business afloat. However, the SCCRC said that it did not consider that these admissions could be regarded as being given freely and consistently, and that they arose from the seemingly indisputable evidence that he was faced with.

His conviction was overturned when it became clear that evidence undermining Horizon had been suppressed and that bugs, errors, and defects in Horizon could, and did, cause discrepancies and shortfalls in branch accounts.

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