A FORMER post office worker who had his life torn apart by faulty software and lost £110,000 has had his testimony heard at a national inquiry.

A government inquiry has been hearing the witness statements of victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal.

The scandal saw 736 sub-postmasters and mistresses impacted after the Post Office’s faulty accountancy software, Horizon, appeared to show the victims had money missing.

The fault saw postmasters sent to prison or left them financially crippled with a stain on their character.

One victim was Graham Ward who ran Rivenhall post office from 2002 to 2008.

He also ran the Feering post office from 2005 to 2008.

In his witness statement, Mr Ward said he was accused of numerous shortfalls, the first costing him nearly £1,400 in 2005.

Each shortfall saw Mr Ward have to repay the sums of money or have earnings removed from his paycheck.

Following repeated shortfalls Mr Ward was also threatened with prosecution if he didn’t pay the Post Office back.

Following this, he was investigated and suspended before finally being sacked.

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Mr Ward says the experience cost him around £110,000.

He said he was forced to sell his shop, which was also his home, and says the scandal also led to his marriage of 13 years breaking down.

In the witness impact hearing, David Enright, who is representing many subpostmasters, said: “He has been labelled a thief. The Post Office trainers told the new owners of the Post Office that Mr Ward had stolen money from the Post Office.

“Mr Ward ended up with an IVA (individual voluntary arrangement) for six years. He is no longer confident and does not feel worthy and good enough.”

In a statement read by Mr Enright, Mr Ward added: “I would like to think that the shortfalls were accidental and the Post Office didn’t know how to get out, so let it run.

“I don’t want Post Office Limited employees going to jail as that would not be fair on their kids. I don’t want another family to go through what my family has gone through.”

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In response, a spokesman for the Post Office said: “Whilst it is not appropriate to comment on any individual cases, Post Office is in no doubt of the human cost of the Horizon scandal and we are doing all we can to address this.

“The inquiry’s hearings enable many of those who were most deeply affected by Post Office’s past failings to voice their experiences.

“Their testimonies must and will ensure all lessons are learned so that such events can never happen again.

“We have made interim payments of £100,000 to each of the majority of people whose convictions have been overturned and we are working on final settlements as swiftly as possible. 

“Separately, for other postmasters, we have made offers to more than a third who applied to the Historical Shortfall Scheme.”