A charity founder from Powys has returned her MBE over the Post Office scandal - calling the honours system "broken, disgraceful and a pile of c***".

Sarah Griffith was given the national honour for her work in countries affected by natural disasters.

But she has now returned her medal to 10 Downing Street "in solidarity" with the sub-postmasters affected by the Horizon outrage.

Ms Griffith, who founded a charity while living on Guernsey but who now lives in Knighton, has given up her gong after Paula Vennells was awarded a CBE 'for her services to the Post Office'.

As Sarah returned her MBE in the post on Monday (8 Jan) to 10 Downing street, she said: "The honours system is so devalued, it is not worth the paper it's written on.

"I don't want to be a part of something that condones such disgusting behaviour, my moral compass is working - unlike theirs."

In her letter to King Charles, to explain why she was returning her MBE, Sarah wrote: "I no longer wish to be part of or involved in, a system that freely awards some people honours despite how they have behaved.

OTHER NEWS:

"Specifically, I am referring to Paula Vennells, one time CEO of the Post Office, who was awarded a CBE in 2019 under Boris Johnson’s premiership for her services to The Post Office.

"This, despite the fact that she had presided over the Post Office during the whole time of the recently publicized postmasters scandal.

"At the time this was going on, I was engaged in my charity work overseas, and although I was aware there was some issue, I did not realize the extent of the levels of deceit - it beggars belief!

"The fact that the aforementioned Post Office CEO who presided over this, has not been held accountable, should have received anything other than a prison sentence is an absolute scandal.''

Sarah added: "She knew there were big problems but she had consistently told people the system was 'robust' - that is the word she used - all the way through: it certainly wasn't and she knew it wasn't.

"She received a £400,000 pay off - and I believe the bonuses she took was three to four million. What a pile of c***! It's a disgrace and it is disgusting."

Ms Vennells has now returned her honour - but Sarah believes it is "too little too late", and does not detract from her message that "the system is totally broken".

Sarah was awarded her MBE in 2014 for her work as a former charity founder of Bridge2 - set up after the Asian tsunami in 2005.

Get in touch

Share your views on this story by sending a letter to the editor. To get in touch email news@countytimes.co.uk, or fill in the form on this section of our website.

Sarah's work included first response to help people after natural disasters - including Sri Lanka after tsunami Haiti, after the earthquake super typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013, the 2015 earthquake in Nepal and the refugee crisis in Greece.

Sarah was amongst one of many who have watched the ITV four part series Mr Bates vs The Post Office - which she admits made her "cry and feel apoplectic".

She said: "I think Paula should go to prison, I think all of the board of the Post Office at that time should go to prison, Fujitsu’ should go to prison, Steven Bradshaw - the lead investigator who bullied Post Office workers.

"These people have been responsible for destroying lives - literally from the four suicides - but also surrounding lives - breaking up marriages, businesses, homes, families.

"It goes on and on. No money will ever make it better, the damage this whole thing has caused."

Sarah believes the "worthless" Honours List and system "needs to be stopped immediately".

She admits to feeling relief now that she has handed back her MBE because she does not want to be associated with a system which "embodies corruption".

Sarah, who has had the full support of her family during this decision, explained: "I’m not sad I have returned the award.

"I feel like a weight has been lifted."