Jailed Norwich Horizon postmaster Roger Allen dies aged 81

Roger Allen was born in 1942 and grew up with his mum in Reepham after his dad died when he was young.

After leaving school, he took his A-levels and studied to be an underwriter, getting a job in insurance in his early 20s.

He met his wife-to-be Julie in 1970, getting married in Norwich in 1972, after which they had two daughters.

Roger Allen died aged 81 at his home in Rackheath (Image: Keren Simpson)

After being made redundant from his underwriting job, of 30 years, he used the money to purchase the Post Office in St Johns Close, off Hall Road in Lakenham, in 1994.

Problems with Mr Allen's health first started in August 2000 when he collapsed at home in Rackheath, suffering an aortic aneurysm, which saw him in intensive care for two weeks and out of work for two months.

It occurred shortly after the Post Office introduced the infamous Horizon system, which was meant to replace the old paper-based tills used across Britain with a new networked system.

The strain from work caused Mr and Mrs Allen to make the difficult decision to put the business up for sale.

In early 2002, the Post Office confirmed it was shutting the Lakenham branch and offered Mr Allen £70,000 to close, which he accepted.

Roger and Julie Allen on their wedding day (Image: Keren Simpson)

However, he would never see the money after he and his wife were arrested in November 2002 as they were accused of a £37,000 fraud.

One of his daughters, Keren Simpson, said: "Police came in when it was just mum and dad were there and they were locking up.

"They were both arrested, the Post Office was raided, locked and they were never allowed back in.

"For around six hours they were interrogated."

After taking the advice of his solicitors and pleading guilty to theft - in order to drop the fraud charges - the family thought he would likely get a suspended sentence and most importantly, Mrs Allen wouldn't be charged for anything.

Instead of a suspended sentence, Mr Allen was sentenced to six months in prison on March 12, 2004.

The time inside took its toll on Mr Allen, spending a month at HMP Norwich before serving the remainder of his sentence at an open prison in Suffolk.

Keren Simpson, one of Roger's daughters, said dad was a loyal, passionate, man who never deserved any of this (Image: Newsquest)

More than 700 people signed a petition following the mysterious closure of the St John's Close post office in Lakenham, as covered by the Evening News in January 2003 (Image: Newsquest)

"He lost a lot of weight during his time in prison and after he came out," added Keren.

"He had depression and anxiety after it all - his mental health deteriorated before his death.

"Thankfully him and mum managed to get back to some sort of normality, managing to travel abroad together when he was well enough - they even managed to come out and see me in Australia a few years after I moved there.

"Dad also really enjoyed photography and watching motor racing."

READ MORE: Grieving family say torment of Horizon scandal contributed to city postmaster's death

In 2018, one year before the Horizon system was proven to be faulty, Mr Allen suffered a stroke which left him without use of one arm and gave him trouble walking.

Roger Allen was one of the postmasters caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal (Image: Keren Simpson)

The St John's Close post office in Lakenham, pictured in January 2003 (Image: Newsquest)

Despite appealing his conviction in 2021 at the Court of Appeal, his case was contested by the Post Office due to it being a Department for Work and Pensions prosecution. A lack of evidence proving it was the Horizon system was given as the reason for his appeal failing.

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On March 9, Mr Allen was found by his wife having died peacefully at home.

Keren added: "He had depression and anxiety after it all - his mental health deteriorated before his death.

"He died peacefully at home on March 9 - which the report said was from the effects of the stroke and deterioration.

"Dad was a loyal, passionate, man who never deserved any of this - that's the hardest thing about it all."

Mr Allen's funeral is being held at St Faith's Crematorium on Friday, with family flowers only but donations to the Stroke Association being encouraged.