Paula Vennells ‘complained 365 days a year but never about Horizon’

Mr Tait gave evidence at the Post Office inquiry

A former Fujitsu chief executive said Paula Vennells raised complaints “365 days of the year” as Post Office boss,but never mentioned a problem with Horizon.

Duncan Tait,who held the top role for the Japanese firm’s UK and Ireland arm in April 2011 before becoming the chief executive of Europe,Middle East,India and Africa in 2014,told the Post Office inquiry that Ms Vennells was a “demanding customer”.

His evidence followed of another former Fujitsu boss - Richard Christou - who said that he took no responsibility for the scandal.

More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongfully prosecuted as a result of faulty software,owing to Fujitsu’s Horizon software incorrectly recording shortfalls on their branch accounts.

In his witness statement,Mr Tait wrote of how Ms Vennells would forward complaints and contact him “out of hours to report service issues to [him]”.

‘Wanted fixed’

He added: “I recall receiving a text message from her during a weekend family dinner and calling her to discuss the issue.

“Ms Vennells was a demanding customer who was very clear when an issue had arisen which she wanted fixed.”

However,he went on to stress that he had never received any complaints from the ordained priest - or any other Post Office executives - about the integrity of Horizon.

He wrote: “Post Office executives,including Ms Vennells,did not hesitate to escalate issues to me 365 days of the year at all times of the day and night.

“I responded rapidly every time. But they never escalated to me any issues regarding Horizon integrity.”

Ms Vennells,a former Post Office chief executive,has repeatedly apologised for her part in the scandal

Credit: Carl Court

He added: “Indeed,I heard repeatedly that the subpostmasters’ claims regarding Horizon integrity were unfounded and that the system was working well.”

Also giving evidence on Wednesday,Mr Christou,who was chief executive of the company between 2000 and 2004,said he always regarded the Post Office as a “satisfied customer”.

He told the inquiry he “knew nothing about it” when he addressed his accountability for the miscarriages of justice.

Counsel to the inquiry Sam Stevens asked: “In terms of your accountability then,for the ICL Group and its operations,what would you say your level of accountability was?”

Mr Christou replied: “What I was responsible for was that,so far as possible,to see that the operations of ICL were carried out legally,were carried out profitably,and to report to my shareholders,Fujitsu Ltd,various issues in so far as it was necessary.

‘Miscarriage of justice’

“If you mean that I was responsible for the miscarriage of justice,then I don’t accept that.”

Mr Christou,who said in his witness statement that “no further problems” concerned with Horizon were raised with him during his time at Fujitsu,stressed during the hearing that he thought a “gross miscarriage of justice” had been committed.

Yet he added: “I really feel for the subpostmasters and the postmasters involved – but talking about accountability is a different matter.”

Ms Vennells,who gave evidence last month,broke down in tears on several occasions and apologised repeatedly for her part in the scandal.