Ex-West Boldon postmaster taking on Coast 2 Coast for victims of Post Office Horizon row

Christopher Head, who ran the West Boldon Post Office from 2006-2015 from the age of just 18, was among hundreds of sub-postmasters accused of fraud and theft by the Post Office over the last two decades.

He is gearing up to cycle 136 miles in three days, from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Sunderland – attempting to raise £50,000 to help those whose lives were severely impacted.

Hundreds of postmasters suffered as a result of flaws in the Horizon IT system used by the Post Office.

Many lost their businesses and livelihoods – with some serving prison sentences, experiencing mental health issues and even taking their own lives.

Christopher, now 32 – who claims to have lost £100,000 as a result of the faulty computer system - is still paying off debts from his time as a postmaster and admitted the incident had a huge impact on his mental health.

He has repeatedly called for an independent inquiry to hold those responsible to account, with a UK-wide petition garnering over 5,000 signatures.

But the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance – who won a £58 million settlement against the Post Office in December 2019 – recently boycotted a Government review into the company – with Christopher saying members would not settle for “anything less” than an independent judge-led inquiry.

They now need to raise £98,000 in order fund legal representation to take their complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

At least a quarter (£12,500) of all the donations received by Christopher will also go to charities supporting the NHS, mental health services and food banks across the country.

Christopher, who will set off from Whitehaven on Wednesday, July 8, said: “This will be a challenge for me, as it is at least five years since I last sat on a bike, but for a cause like this it has to be done.

“The Post Office Horizon scandal destroyed thousands of lives and I won’t stop until we see justice.”

To donate visit the Go Fund Me page

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