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When Jess Kaur was accused of stealing from the Post Office, she was so distraught she tried to take her life twice and was also sectioned in hospital.
Blindsided by accusations that she had taken £11,000, the postmistress’s life fell apart in 2009 as she became caught up in the Horizon scandal,
But last night Britain’s Got Talent viewers saw Ms Kaur beam with pride as she sang in a 40-strong choir aptly named Hear Our Voice, made up of victims of what is said to be Britain’s biggest miscarriage of justice.
All four judges on the ITV show put the choir through to the next round and – in a gesture of support – Simon Cowell vowed never to buy a stamp again.
Ms Kaur, now 53, was one of hundreds of sub-postmasters accused or convicted of theft and fraud due to the faulty Horizon computer system, developed by Fujitsu and installed by the Post Office. It incorrectly showed financial shortfalls, leading to prosecutions.
Ms Kaur’s story was a plotline in ITV’s award-winning drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office last year.
For Ms Kaur, the choir has brought back some joy to her life. She said: ‘I heard about Britain’s Got Talent and was originally just going to be introducing them but ended up singing as well.
‘We are not really singers… but it’s given me so much more hope and joy.’ The choir received a standing ovation for their rendition of Falling Down by Will and the People.
Post Office scandal victims including Jess Kaur (bottom right) performed as 40-strong choir Hear Our Voice on Britain’s Got Talent
Ms Kaur (pictured) ran Lazy Hill Post Office in Aldridge, West Midlands and was so distraught by false accusations that she tried to take her own life twice
Ms Kaur, who ran the Lazy Hill Post Office in Aldridge, West Midlands, was joined in the singing group by Mark Wildblood, who once ran Upton Post Office on the Wirral, Merseyside.
He had the idea to set up the choir after a media event, attended by sub-postmasters, to mark the release of the ITV drama in 2024.
Also taking part is Tim Brentnall, 42, who ran a Post Office branch in Roch, Pembrokeshire. His conviction for false accounting was overturned in 2021.
Mr Brentnall hailed Cowell a hero for his ‘incredible support’, adding: ‘We couldn’t be more pleased and thankful for such a powerful ally in the industry.
‘Singing is a form of therapy for me now. However far this journey goes, we’ll take it. But the group is so strong that whenever we finish with Britain’s Got Talent, we all want to do something more.’
Hear Our Voice will now take part in the live semi-final shows which will screen on ITV in May.
