In 2006, Vijay Parekh assumed control of Willesden Post Office in north-west London, envisioning a peaceful retirement with his wife. Unforeseen, the faulty Horizon computer system of the Post Office wrongly accused him of embezzling £78,000 from his own business three years later. Convicted in 2010, Parekh spent six months in prison, following legal advice to plead guilty to false accounting.
"The next thing I knew, he ordered, 'Take him down.' My entire family was present," he recounted. They escorted me to a cell; I couldn't see my family. It was truly devastating; I never anticipated a custodial sentence. My first thought was: How do I explain this to my father, who was 75 at the time?” he said, tears welling up. I had to tell my Dad what happened. He was in tears,” he said.
Parekh spent the initial three months of his sentence at Wormwood Scrubs and then was transferred to Ford Open prison in West Sussex for an additional three months.
“I was granted early release and was out within six months,” he told us.
In 2021, alongside 39 other former subpostmasters, Parekh was exonerated as the Horizon accounting system's unreliability came to light. The Horizon scandal, spotlighted by the recent ITV drama "Mr Bates vs the Post Office," has brought public attention back to the issue.
Now 65, Parekh continues to fight for the prosecution of those responsible for the scandal, which unjustly implicated numerous subpostmasters. He vividly recalls the day of the audit in 2009 when auditors claimed shortfalls of £75,000-78,000, initiating a tumultuous legal journey.
Suspended in 2009, Parekh faced prosecution and repaid £83,000 through family sacrifices, only to be stunned by an 18-month prison sentence. Post-release, he struggled for work due to his criminal record and faced bankruptcy.
The Horizon IT scandal has left enduring scars—health complications, relocation from a home of 55 years, and a challenging employment history. Despite the government's recent announcement of legislation to acquit those convicted, Parekh emphasises that no amount of money can compensate for the 15 years lost.
“I’ve lost 15 years of my life. An apology isn’t going to get you those 15 years back. They need to be prosecuted. We will get justice but it will take time,” he asserts, reflecting on the profound impact of the Horizon scandal on his life.
“The support from my family and extended family has kept me in a stable situation. Without it I don’t think I would have been able to pull through,” he said.
