Lake District subpostmaster reveals his experience

Panjalingam Karunakumaran, 59, known by many as Mr PK, now runs a convenience store in Windermere.

He has now put tape over part of the signage with the words 'and Post Office' written on it.

The Horizon IT scandal is currently in the middle of a public inquiry and it was thrust into the national spotlight by the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. 

'Post Office' is still clearly visible in the signage at his shop (Image: Newsquest)

The Post Office's Horizon IT system, which was commissioned from Fujitsu for a nationwide rollout, wrongly attributed shortfalls in the accounts of many subpostmasters from 1999 to 2015. Many put themselves in financial ruin to cover the 'shortfall' and some even received criminal convictions for fraud. 

Mr Karunakumaran ran a kiosk at his shop in Heathwaite on Park Road, and a Post Office in Burneside at Chessboard Food and Wine on New Road (now Burneside Convenience Store and Off Licence), between 2005 and when he was suspended in 2008. 

READ MORE: Rinkfield Post Office fraud case raised in inquiry

He said he made a 'good profit from the Post Office' until his computer started telling him that he had shortfalls, which he could not account for. 

Documents seen by this publication reveal that he repaid £15,443.38 to the Post Office in March 2008 and £6,544.90 made in instalments over two years to make up the loss.

Mr Karunakumaran said he had no real idea of how much of his own money he put into covering the shortfalls when he still managed his Post Office services.

He sold a property in London and raided his savings to give money to the Post Office.

His precarious financial situation came crashing down in March 2008 when the Post Office did an audit of the business while he was away in Australia and found the shortfall. He came back to find his business closed and that he was suspended. 

He said: "When I got back they took me to an interview. This is your shortfall, what are you going to do? I didn't know what to say."

He had not told anyone of his financial situation before the audit. Even though he knew he was innocent, he said he did not refuse to pay because he did not want to go to prison while raising a young family. 

Solicitors' letters seen by this publication show that Mr Karunakumaran has been paid back some money by the Post Office over the last two years. 

He did not want the exact amount to be published as he said there was still more money needed to cover his losses - and he did not want to harm future financial applications to the Post Office.

The main thing Mr Karunakumaran wants is his name cleared in the local community.

In 2008, news articles revealed that the closure of his Burneside Post Office was due to Mr Karunakumaran being suspended by Post Office bosses. Even though he never went to court, this article stained his reputation in the community. 

He said: "In terms of compensation for my name spoiled - they need to pay me that as well. Still, I can't walk into my village. I want to clear my name in Burneside and Windermere through the paper." 

When asked if he had seen the ITV drama, Mr Karunakumaran said that he 'cried' and was not able to watch more than ten minutes.

Right up until the drama came out, Mr Karunakumaran thought he was one of only a few having issues, and had no idea of the scale of the problem. He said he was not aware of Alan Bates' campaign before this.