Accused in 1994, Peter Lloyd-Holt never recovered from theft allegations, dying without clearing his name and impacting his family.
Peter’s branch accounts showed shortfalls in Bolton. Police questioned him. He wasn’t prosecuted but lost his job. He repaid a lot of money.
The accusation hit Peter hard. He always said he was innocent. He died in 2021 at age 75. He never cleared his name. His family said he changed a lot after the accusations.
His daughter, Clare Brennan, remembers his happiness. She said it vanished after the accusation. He became a shell of his former self. There was no trial or chance to prove innocence.
His family thinks faults in “Capture” software caused the issues. This program was used before the Horizon system. Horizon caused many false accusations from 1999-2015.
A report said Capture likely created errors too. The government will now support those affected. This includes people sacked or who repaid money. This opens chances for more victims to seek justice.
Clare wants to clear her dad’s name. She promised him she would try. His wife, Agnes, saw the impact. Life changed after he lost his job.
Agnes said their happy family life ended. They had four kids. They struggled to pay the mortgage after the incident. They faced financial hardship together.
Peter withdrew into himself. The accusations destroyed his confidence. He couldn’t keep a job. He felt like a failure. He even considered suicide at one point.
His faith also wavered. He was a regular churchgoer before. He never got an apology. He never received acknowledgement before he died.
Twenty-one Capture cases are now under review. The Criminal Cases Review Commission is looking at them. Hudgell Solicitors represents Peter’s family. This firm has helped Horizon scandal victims.
Neil Hudgell says many people suffered with Capture. He urges anyone affected to come forward. The Post Office says they are very sorry and will cooperate. They want to help with the investigations.