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Ex sub-postmistress working two jobs to pay debts

BBC Two women sat next to each other BBC
Tracey Merritt (R) and her daughter Lisa Porter (L) from Wincanton say the Post Office "wrecked" their life

A former sub-postmistress has said she is working in two jobs to cope with debt that resulted from the Post Office faulty IT scandal.

Tracey Merritt, of Wincanton, Somerset, ran two post offices in Dorset and was prosecuted but - because the charges were eventually dropped - she says she is not eligible for compensation.

She told BBC Radio Somerset: "The Post Office completely wrecked my life. I work in a supermarket from 5am in the morning and I take out an ice cream van in the afternoon to pay back my debts."

The Post Office has previously said in relation to Horizon: "We are deeply sorry for the impact of the Horizon IT Scandal on so many people's lives and continue to pay redress to victims as swiftly as possible."

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted after faulty computer software from Fujitsu, called Horizon, made it look like money was missing from their branches.

The public inquiry has resumed on Tuesday, with former sub-postmaster Alan Bates, who led the campaign to expose the IT scandal, giving evidence.

The hit ITV drama series Mr Bates vs The Post Office thrust the scandal into the spotlight, and put pressure on the government and Post Office to act.

Tracey Merritt's daughter Lisa Porter spoke to the BBC in January 2024 and says the past few years "damaged everything" in her family

Ms Merritt continued: "Public opinion has really changed to the whole scandal after the ITV programme.

"Instead of being called ‘the one was caught with the fingers in her till', it changed to ‘oh, so it was the post office's fault then’.

'Alan Bates is a hero'

When Post Office investigators began questioning Ms Merritt about her branches in Yetminster and Chetnole, she claims she was threatened.

She said: "I was told I needed to confess otherwise I would go to prison.

"I was then told I couldn't talk to my daughter, and I believed them."

For 18 months, she said she had no communication with her daughter, including during her daughter's pregnancy.

Ms Merritt says she cannot claim damages because the charges against her were dropped, and is hoping she can get "justice" after all these years.

"I will be keeping a keen eye on the inquiry," she said.

"Alan Bates is brilliant and he just hasn’t stopped. Without him we would have never been here. He’s a hero."

The government introduced new legislation in March 2024, which was set up to speed up clearing victims' names and paying compensation.