Man fulfils dream after Horizon IT scandal payout

David Morley was compensated after losing thousands in the Horizon IT scandal

A former sub-postmaster who lost more than £13,000 during the Post Office Horizon IT scandal has used his compensation to fly World War Two planes.

David Morley ran a Post Office in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, and reported issues with the system to bosses.

He lost thousands of pounds but a government compensation scheme saw all of that returned, with him spending it on his love of flying vintage aircraft.

"This makes somewhat of an amend to all the pressure and stress we went through," he said.

David said he had always had a passion for vintage aircraft

The former sub-postmaster said he reported issues with the Horizon IT system and saw figures change in front of his eyes in a meeting with Post Office officials.

He was also one of the 555 sub-postmasters who initially took the Post Office to court over the scandal.

David said he was threatened with the sack and prosecution for "creative accounting".

But the 85-year-old stood firm and threatened to sue the Post Office for wrongful dismissal if they did sack him.

In a subsequent meeting with Post Office officials to try and sort the row, David said the computer system "did a transaction on its own" with "nobody touching anything".

David said the representatives were left "speechless".

David flew from an airfield in Northamptonshire over his home in Sutton-in-Ashfield

He was later compensated to the tune of £13,000 and has given some to various charities.

David flew a P-51D Mustang from Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire and promised his wife an aerobatics display over their home.

His hour-long flight was seen as a special milestone after years of worry following the scandal.

Peering up to wave at her husband from their home, his wife Mary said she was over the moon for him.

"This is definitely a celebration," she said.

"This is what he earmarked that he would do... he's wanted to do this for a very long time, so it's wonderful."

David's wife Mary watched on from their front garden in Nottinghamshire