Paula Vennells was shown an email that suggests including a jailed pregnant subpostmistress’ case in an independent review “would be a red rag to a bull”.

Seema Misra from West Byfleet was wrongly sentenced to 15 months in jail in 2010.

The email was sent to Ms Vennells in 2012 by the Post Office legal team.

She was questioned about it by Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer.