Widow hits back at Post Office bosses over IT scandal she believes pushed her husband to early grave

A widow broke down as she told a public inquiry that her husband’s wrongful conviction over an unexplained £27,000 shortfall ‘massively contributed’ to his early death. 

Julian Wilson, who ran a post office near Redditch, Worcestershire, died of bowel cancer six years ago aged 67. 

Unable to explain the losses, he was forced to plead guilty and was sentenced to 300 hours of community service in 2008. 

He became reclusive and ‘fell apart’, sometimes speaking openly about suicide. 

Karen Wilson, 66, holding an image of her late husband Julian, a subpostmaster who was wrongly convicted in 2008. She gave evidence today at the Post Office inquiry held at The International Dispute Resolution Centre in London

Julian and Karen Wilson of Redditch, Worcestershire, pictured on their wedding day in 1985

In January 2016 he was diagnosed with bowel cancer and died later that year. 

His wife Karen said yesterday: ‘I never said that this did kill him, but it did massively contribute to his early death. 

‘He had all the evidence in six boxes, and he wasn’t allowed to stand up and give any evidence. 

‘He had worse consequences than if he’d been tried for murder.’

She added: ‘I want to know the who and the why. I would like to see some accountability.

‘I can’t believe alarms weren’t going off between the lower levels, the auditors and the board. Did nobody ever say this isn’t right?’

Following the conviction, Mrs Wilson sold many of their possessions, including her equestrian gear, at a car boot sale to pay the mortgage.

She also pawned her jewellery collection built up over 30 years, including her engagement ring, for £900.