DISGRACED Post Office boss Paula Vennells bowed to boiling public pressure today and handed back her gong as establishment panic mounted over the scandalous persecution of sub-postmasters. 

Her move came as ministers considered unprecedented legislative moves to exonerate all those falsely convicted of fraud or theft because of failings by the Post Office’s Horizon computer system. 

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk told MPs that the “truly exceptional circumstances” surrounding the scandal made it right to consider passing a law simply clearing the hundreds who suffered unjust prosecutions.