A FORMER subpostmaster from Greenock has told how he was left suicidal after being falsely accused of theft by his bosses.
Keith Macaldowie, 49, tried to take his own life, lost his marriage and has been left suffering from anxiety and depression following his terrible ordeal.
The dad-of-two, who ran the post office in Larkfield's Angus Road, is one of the people who have been victims of the post office IT scandal which saw innocent workers hounded for years, accused of stealing because of a faulty computer system.
Seven hundred people were given criminal convictions and some went to prison.
Keith has been giving evidence this week to the Post Office Horizon Inquiry, set up to look into the outrage, and told the Tele of the personal toll it has taken on him.
He said: "It has been the biggest miscarriage of justice in recent British history.
"I feel suicidal every day and I am on medication for depression.
"I was made to feel that I was the only one who has a problem with the system.
"At the time I felt ashamed - that I had let people down.
"I withdrew into myself and my marriage broke down.
"I was in a very dark place.
"I could only get low-paid jobs in fast-food outlets and the financial burden had an impact on my mental health."
Keith says that at his lowest point, he tried to commit suicide and still struggles to come to terms with what happened.
He told the Telegraph: "I had a noose around my neck at one point.
"I wake up feeling disappointed that I am still here.
"I felt I had nowhere to turn."
Keith said in his inquiry evidence that the disastrous computer system was complex and difficult to use and that he was given no in-depth training on it.
He said: "When I called the helpline all they said was that I had to make good the shortfalls, instead of looking into the problem.
"I was told the Horizon system did not make errors."
The first claimed shortfall of £5,000 occurred 2009 and the second was in 2011, when an audit alleged £10,000 was missing.
Keith was forced to borrow money from his mother-in-law to pay it back, re-mortgaged his house and had to sell off the newsagents he ran to just to pay his debts.
In the meantime he was summoned to attend a taped interview with post office bosses.
His mental state was so fragile that his psychologist advised him not to attend and he was represented by a representative of the Federation of Postmasters.
Keith said: "I told him that the system was wrong and he said 'that's what everyone says'."
The fact that Keith was far from the only victim came to light in 2015 when he was asked to join the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance and became one of 550 who took the Post Office to court.
Put under enormous personal strain, Keith had made an arrangement to pay in cash for the alleged shortfall and was told if he resigned then the Post Office would take no further action against him.
As well as the money he paid back he lost a further £3,000 because he didn't get paid when he was suspended.
In the meantime he was receiving letters threatening action if he didn't pay up.
Keith said: "Innocent people served time for this, took their own lives, have criminal records.
"I feel very angry about it, the Post Office haven't apologised.
"I no longer have any faith in the rule of British law.
"It's a scandal."
Keith has two children, aged 19 and 15, and says he feels like he let them down because he was so depressed during the nightmare.
He said: "I feel they lost out for so many years because I wasn't able to do things with them."
Keith now says he wants justice and proper compensation for everyone whose lives have been ruined by the scandal.
He said: "Ideally what I like to see prosecutions at Fujitsu who provided the software - they knew they had a problem with the system but lied in court.
"They should be charged.
"The basis of law is that you are innocent until proven guilty, but with the Post Office it was a case of guilty until proven innocent."
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