Subpostmaster ‘ashamed’ at embezzlement conviction and died before name cleared

William Quarm’s widow Anne said he pleaded guilty in order to avoid prison.

William Quarm, 69, died before his conviction was overturned (PA) (PA Archive)

The widow of a subpostmaster who died before his conviction for embezzling money from the Post Office was overturned has said he was “depressed and ashamed” about the “shame” he had brought to the home.

William Quarm, known as Bill, died in 2012 aged 69, two years after he pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the Post Office he ran with his wife Anne in Paible, North Uist, in the Western Isles.

BBC Scotland reported Mr Quarm had been accused of stealing tens of thousands of pounds from his branch, telling his wife he had “no answers” as to where the money went.

His widow told the BBC her late husband was increasingly suicidal due to the situation.

She said: “Bill came home looking like death and crying and saying ‘I’ve had these guys in bullying me from the Post Office’.”

Mrs Quarm said she believed her husband because he was an “honourable man” and a “good husband and father”.

They (the Post Office) were making him believe that he had brought this shame on us all and the only reason he pled guilty was to try and keep him out of prison and it was shocking

Anne Quarm, widow of subpostmaster Bill Quarm

The widow said she had “no reason to believe otherwise”.

Mrs Quarm said the Post Office had made her husband believe he was guilty and that his biggest fear was going to jail.

She said: “Short of being a recluse, he was distancing himself from the family because he was so depressed and ashamed that he had brought this shame on the home.

“They (the Post Office) were making him believe that he had brought this shame on us all and the only reason he pled guilty was to try and keep him out of prison, and it was shocking.

“Every time he was getting ready for court he had to pack a wee bag because we never thought he would be back.

“The fear in his eyes – I’ll never forget it.”

Mr Quarm’s conviction was overturned on September 29, 2023, court officials confirmed.

Mrs Quarm said it had come as a blessing, but she wished her husband had been alive to know he had done nothing wrong.

“My whole world, everything I had worked so hard to achieve, just came down like a ton of bricks,” she told the BBC.

“It’s very hard to imagine what it’s like to lose your home, your life.

“I just knew I had to keep it together for my kids – just to live.

“But it has destroyed something inside. It’s hard.”

The Post Office has been asked for comment.

More than 900 Post Office workers across the UK were prosecuted when faulty software made it look like money was missing from their branches.

Around 100 Post Office workers in Scotland were caught up in the scandal.

Both the UK and Scottish governments have said all of those who received wrongful convictions will be exonerated.