The former head of IT at the Post Office broke down in tears before giving evidence at the public inquiry into the Horizon scandal.
Lesley Sewell, who was a senior executive at the Post Office between 2010 and 2015, was questioned by Emma Price, counsel to the inquiry, about her role.
Sewell wept briefly as she took the oath after she was called as a witness. Sir Wynn Williams, the inquiry’s chairman, said he appreciated that giving evidence might be “upsetting” but that Price would ask questions in a proper and sensible manner.
Sewell told the inquiry that she “did not feel comfortable” with Vennells contacting her
TAYFUN SALCI/ZUMA/ALAMY
Sewell told the inquiry that she had blocked Paula Vennells’s phone number after the former chief executive sought her help to “avoid an independent inquiry”. Sewell said Vennells had contacted her four
