Post Office to pay out Horizon victims after personal details leaked
Hundreds of former subpostmasters whose personal details were leaked on the Post Office website will receive compensation.
Names and addresses of the 555 victims of the Horizon IT scandal, including Sir Alan Bates, who won a High Court battle against the organisation were accidentally published online in June last year.
The Post Office has said individuals could receive initial payouts of up to £5,000, with the potential for more if impact on themselves or their family can be evidenced.
At the time, Nick Read, the then-Post Office chief executive, said the leak – which showed the victims' full names and home addresses – was a 'truly terrible error'.
The Post Office said victims would receive £5,000 or £3,500, depending on whether they were then living at the address published.
'We have written to all named individuals either directly, or via their solicitors,' it said.
'If there are any individuals whose name was impacted by last year's breach, but who have not received information about the payment for some reason, they can contact us or ask their solicitors if they have legal representation.'
They added the company would 'consider any special cases if any individuals consider they are entitled to further amounts'.
Chris Head, a former subpostmaster, welcomed the Post Office taking accountability, but said it had still taken the company too long.
'Although this is welcomed by those affected, it took far too long to get here, almost a year,' he told The Telegraph.
'It was [as though] the Post Office had learnt nothing from its past actions and had to be threatened with new legal action before they agreed to make what I would say is a much fairer offer.
'However, the impact on some people may have been far greater than this sum compensates them for and it is right that these should be on an interim basis, which allows them to bring further claims should there be sufficient evidence.
'I hope after this further episode, and the terrible impact it has had on already damaged people, the Post Office will learn from this and never allow such a thing to happen again.'
Freeths, the law firm which acted on behalf of Sir Alan Bates and the other victims in the landmark High Court case, said it had secured the payouts on behalf of all those affected and their legal representatives.
Will Richmond-Coggan, a lawyer, said: 'We welcome the progress we have made with this case, but there is still a long way to go to recognise the devastating impact of this breach for those affected.'
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
33 minutes ago
- The Hill
Sunken Bayesian superyacht lifted out of the water off Sicily as salvage operate completes
PORTICELLO, Italy (AP) — A British-flagged luxury superyacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing U.K. tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others, was lifted fully out of the water on Saturday afternoon as salvage recovery crews completed the operation to bring it ashore for further investigation, the local coast guard said. The white top and blue hull of the 56-meter (184-foot) Bayesian, covered with algae and mud, was visible clear of the sea in a holding area of a yellow floating crane barge, a witness said.
San Francisco Chronicle
42 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Sunken Bayesian superyacht lifted out of the water off Sicily as salvage operate completes
PORTICELLO, Italy (AP) — A British-flagged luxury superyacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing U.K. tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others, was lifted fully out of the water on Saturday afternoon as salvage recovery crews completed the operation to bring it ashore for further investigation, the local coast guard said. The white top and blue hull of the 56-meter (184-foot) Bayesian, covered with algae and mud, was visible clear of the sea in a holding area of a yellow floating crane barge, a witness said.
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Hello nepo babies: Here are the richest celebrity kids
It used to be enough for a child to be adorable, maybe make a red carpet appearance or two, and then fade quietly into normal life. But in today's fame-fueled economy, being born to celebrity parents doesn't just open doors-it opens vaults. Today, kids with famous last names don't wait for trust are the fund. The concept of generational wealth isn't new, but the celebrity version of it has taken on a life of its own. Kids born into fame now drive search traffic, land sponsorships, and influence global markets without ever needing a LinkedIn profile. Related: Martha Stewart aesthetic sets the tone for summer For some, simply being born is enough to launch a billion-dollar narrative. It's no longer about what they'll do one day. It's about the economic value they bring the moment they enter the world. Royal titles, superstar parents, and massive social followings mean that their net worths can skyrocket before they even learn to write their names. So who's topping the toddler rich list in 2025? A new study takes a closer look at just how financially powerful these celebrity children have become. And the findings reveal a whole new side to modern fame. According to a recent report by baby brand Posh Peanut, Princess Charlotte tops the list of the richest celebrity children with a staggering estimated net worth of $5 billion. While she's still years away from earning her own income, the combination of royal lineage and worldwide fascination with the British monarchy gives her an unparalleled economic edge. Her older brother, Prince George, isn't far behind, with an estimated net worth of $3.8 billion. And though their wealth stems largely from projected influence and inherited power, celebrity kids in the entertainment world are catching up fast. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's son, Rza Athelston Mayers, is only three years old, yet already holds an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion. Blue Ivy Carter, the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, follows with $755 million and nearly a million monthly Google searches. Related: Here's Kim Kardashian's key to business success Even Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's children, including North, Saint, and Chicago, each sit at an estimated $525 million. In total, the top 10 list includes names like Stormi Webster, Daisy Dove Bloom, Ella Clooney, and Shiloh Jolie (who leads in online popularity with 3.2 million monthly searches). These figures aren't based on earnings or assets in the traditional sense. The research used 2025 data to estimate net worth by analyzing the public profiles of celebrity children, including their parents' wealth, projected brand value, and popularity based on monthly Google search volume. The numbers may be speculative, but they reflect a very real cultural reality: being born famous now comes with serious financial weight. Beyond the jaw-dropping numbers, the study points to a deeper societal shift: kids aren't just growing up in the being defined by it. A spokesperson for Posh Peanut summed it up bluntly: "The astronomical valuations placed on celebrity children, particularly those connected to royal or entertainment dynasties, highlight how modern celebrity culture increasingly treats children as economic assets rather than private individuals." They added, "This phenomenon raises important questions about childhood privacy and the psychological impact of extreme public scrutiny." Psychologists have long warned that growing up in the public eye can distort a child's sense of identity. Constant media attention, fan commentary, and brand pressure can affect emotional development, self-esteem, and the ability to form healthy boundaries. Even when parents have good intentions, the spotlight doesn't dim. Every outfit becomes a style moment, every appearance a headline. And when childhood is treated as content, the line between fame and personhood gets dangerously blurred. It's a high-stakes balancing act. Parents, some deliberately, some inevitably, are navigating a fine line between legacy-building and exploitation. Meanwhile, brands and media continue to feed a cycle where fame begins at birth and marketability matters more than milestones. As influencer culture grows up, quite literally, the new power players of the next generation may not need to do anything to stay relevant. Their last name, their lineage, and their online presence are already doing the work. In a world where virality matters more than credentials, the next business moguls may be barely out of diapers. Related: Your next Lululemon top may be made from old clothes The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
