The defendant sought judicial review of a period of imprisonment in excess of 8 years imposed on him for failing to comply with a confiscation order. Judges: Moses LJ, Irwin Citations: [2012] EWHC 596 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes:
Judges: Langstaff J Citations: [2010] EWHC 3412 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes:
Appeal from finding that allegations were not out of time. Judges: Lady Justice Thirlwall Mr Justice Jeremy Baker Citations: [2022] EWHC 842 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes:
The defendant had been convicted of an offence in Portugal and sentenced to imprisonment. He was given an order for voluntary departure, but his lawyers did not file an appeal. When a European Arrest Warrant was issued, he now sought an order for judicial review of SOCA’s decision not to resist the warrant, citing problems … Continue reading Mann, Regina (on The Application of) v The City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court and Others: Admn 19 Jan 2010
The claimant had successfully defended a forfeiture case, but had been refused an order for her costs by the magistrates. The magistrates had found that the case had been properly brought under the 2002 Act, even though it had failed. Held: The request for judicial review failed. Citations: [2009] EWHC 762 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: … Continue reading Perinpanathan v City of Westminster Magistrates Court: Admn 10 Mar 2009
The prosecutor sought to bring in documentary evidence in support of its application to commit the defendant for trial on fraud charges. During the course of proceedings the rules changed on admission of such evidence. The prosecutor appealed dismissal of the charges after they had been refused consent to admit the evidnce after the magistrate … Continue reading Crown Prosecution Service v City of London Magistrates’ Court and Gill: Admn 20 Dec 2005
The defendant had written to the court to request an adjournment. The case proceeded in his absence. Held: Justices have a broad discretion on the re-opening case after a conviction had been entered in the Defendant’s absence. The defendant retained a right of appeal under s108. The absence was the defendant’s entire responsibility. The court … Continue reading Regina v Newport Justices Ex Parte Carey; Regina v Gwent Magistrates Court, ex parte Carey: QBD 16 Jul 1996
Judges: Coulson LJ, Holgate J Citations: [2021] EWHC 112 (Admin), [2021] WLR(D) 64 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes:
A person with the appellant’s full power of attorney had attended court, but had pretended to be the appellant, who now appealed the conviction. Held: The claim was allowed. Judges: Holroyde LJ, Dove J Citations: [2019] EWHC 1385 (Admin), [2019] WLR(D) 378 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes:
The defendants appealed convictions for contempt of court, on the basis of having wilfully interrupted the court. The respondent said that no appeal lay. Held: The statute was ambiguous, and ‘there can be no good reason why a person convicted under s.12 should not have a right of appeal against conviction as well as against … Continue reading Haw and Another v City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court: Admn 12 Dec 2007
A man was accused of a series of mortgage frauds. The defendants each gave evidence to the court. He made a complaint of perjury against each of them. The current defendants sought judicial review of a refusal to discharge the summonses. Held: ‘there is no authority directly upon the question whether the issue and maintenance … Continue reading Regina v Newcastle Upon Tyne Magistrates’ Court ex parte Still, Lawlan, Davidson, Pryor, and Forrest: Admn 18 Sep 1996
The claimant sought judicial review of the magistrates refusal to set aside a conviction entered in his absence. He had been in custody and not produced for the hearing. Held: The review was granted. The judge had not established that the defendant was at fault in not attending. Citations: [2007] EWHC 2766 (Admin) Links: Bailii … Continue reading Morsby v Tower Bridge Magistrates’ Court: Admn 31 Oct 2007
The claimant sought judicial review of his conviction by the magistrates for contempt of court: ‘The Administrative Court office wrote to Mr Lane on 22nd November, almost a week ago, pointing out that the right of appeal against orders made under section 12 of the 1981 Act consists of a right of appeal to the … Continue reading Lane v Gloucester Magistrates Court: Admn 28 Nov 2006
The claimant was an employee of the company manufacturing alcohol measuring devices. He sought judicial review of decisions by magistrates to require him to attend court to give evidence which would require him to breach obligations of confidence he had undertaken. Held: Judicial review proceedings were available if necessary to quash witness summonses issued under … Continue reading Cunliffe, Regina (on the Application of) v West London Magistrates’ Court: Admn 6 Jul 2006
The defendants were said to have been found in possession of false passports. They successfully argued that the offence charged under the 1981 Act had been repealed by the 2006 Act. The prosecutor argued that a Schedule only came into effect when explicitly made to come into effect. Held: The prosecutor’s appeal succeeded. The 2006 … Continue reading Crown Prosecution Service, Regina (on the Application of) v Bow Street Magistrates Court and others: Admn 18 Jul 2006
The defendant had been convicted of speeding. At the time the road was thought to be subject to the 30 mph limit but was in fact subject only to the national speed limit. Her solicitors had delayed their application for judicial review. Held: ‘Where an unjust sentence has been imposed upon a claimant, then, notwithstanding … Continue reading Harrison, Regina (on the Application Of) v Flintshire Magistrates’ Court: Admn 13 Oct 2004
Once a guilty plea has been accepted in the Magistrates Court to an either way case, the Magistrates may still commit for sentence after hearing all factors including the defendant’s antecedents, but he should be allowed to make representations. Magistrates are to commit a defendant for sentence to the Crown Court only when satisfied that … Continue reading Regina v Warley Magistrates Court, ex parte Director of Public Prosecutions; Same v Staines Magistrates Court, ex parte Same; Etc: QBD 13 May 1998
Citations: [2003] EWHC 73 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes:
A reverse legal burden applied to defendants accused of an offence under section 17 of the Forestry Act 1967 which, in specified circumstances, created an absolute offence of felling a tree without a felling licence. Clarke LJ said: ‘It is thus clear that, while the general principles are those set out in Edwards, each case … Continue reading Grundy and Co Excavations Ltd and Another, Regina (on the Application of) v Halton Division Magistrates Court: Admn 24 Feb 2003
The police officer had been accused of an offence. The case was discharged under the section at committal. The Commissioner sought to commence disciplinary proceedings on the same evidence. Held: The tests of the two sets of hearings were different. The magistrates had been asked to see whether there was sufficient evidence to justify putting … Continue reading Regina (on the Application of Redgrave) v The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis: CA 22 Jan 2003
Application for judicial review of a decision of the Medway Magistrates’ Court, to proceed with a trial of the claimant in his absence despite the provision of medical evidence. Judges: Richards LJ, Treacy J Citations: [2012] EWHC 1403 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes:
Request for judicial review of decision of magistrates to commit him to crown court for sentence. Citations: [1999] EWHC Admin 609 Links: Bailii Statutes:
The defendant appealed against the refusal of the Justices to deal with his formal committal to the Crown court in his absence when he was unwell. The magistrates had distinguished between sections 6(1) and 6(2) as to whether the accused was required to be present. Held: The distinction was false: ‘when the Act deals in … Continue reading Regina v Liverpool City Magistrates Court ex parte Quantrell: Admn 19 Jan 1999
Claim that proceedings for summary offence not issued within six months. Citations: [1996] EWHC Admin 227 Links: Bailii Statutes:
A sentence takes immediate effect as it is pronounced, thus allowing a defendant to be treated as a serving prisoner immediately. Citations: Times 14-Nov-1996, [1996] EWHC Admin 136 Links: Bailii Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 82(3)(a) Criminal Sentencing, Magistrates, Prisons Updated: 25 May 2022; Ref: scu.136684
The Magistrates appealed against an order of mandamus requiring a case to be stated after rejecting the request by the authority as frivolous. The authority had sought to prevent the emission of noise from land used for a Motocross racing track. Held: The appeal succeeded. Magistrates refusing to state a case should give brief reasons … Continue reading Regina v Mildenhall Magistrates’ Court, Ex Parte Forest Heath District Council; Regina v North West Suffolk (Mildenhall) Magistrates’ Court ex parte Forest Heath District Council: CA 16 Apr 1997
The defendant to extradition proceedings had breached her bail by going on holiday. She had been arrested and sent to the extraditing country which had in turn withdrawn the extradition request to the UK. Held: The surety could not be forfeited under the section merely for the breach of the bail condition by a defendant. … Continue reading Regina (Hart) v Bow Street Magistrates’ Court: QBD 19 Dec 2001
The police had decided simply to re-lay charges which had already been dismissed after an extensive depositions hearing. The charges were simplified but essentially the same. Held: This was an abuse of process. A court is possessed of a discretion which extends to enable it to stay a second prosecution where that second prosecution can … Continue reading Regina v Horsham Justices, ex parte Reeves (Note): QBD 1980
Representations that the Intoximeter or other device used for measuring breath alcohol, should not have been approved or that the Secretary of State should have withdrawn approval in respect of the device should be addressed to the Secretary of State and not to the court. While an approval subsisted it is ‘wholly immaterial to mount … Continue reading Regina v Skegness Magistrates’ Court ex parte Cardy: 1985
The papers for an appeal must supply sufficient material to enable the court to assess grounds for costs. Citations: Times 03-May-1993 Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 64 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Litigation Practice Updated: 11 May 2022; Ref: scu.88291
The defendant had been in custody for a different offence on the day when the magistrates were due to try him, and he was not produced. The prosecutor only learned of the other conviction on that day, and sought an adjournment. Instead the magistrates dismissed the charge. The prosecutor appealed. Held: The magistrates’ power to … Continue reading Regina v Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court and Day ex parte Director of Public Prosecutions: QBD 1989
Two police officers were being brought to trial, charged with assault occasioning bodily harm. They applied to the trial judge for an order directing the prosecution to inform the defence whether any members of the jury panel had criminal convictions, and if so, to give details. The trial judge made the order. The court considered … Continue reading Regina v Sheffield Crown Court ex parte Brownlow: CA 1980
DONALDSON LJ: Mr. Phillips appeals by case stated against his conviction and a fine of andpound;5 imposed by Mr Loy, the Leeds Stipendiary Magistrates, in September 1978 for failure to comply with a School Attendance Order. It is not the conviction or the fine which irks Mr. Phillips. His irritation, and perhaps even anger, is … Continue reading Phillips v Brown: QBD 20 Jun 1980
The applicant sought a declaration as to the lawfulness of a lottery scheme whilst criminal proceedings were pending against it for the same scheme. Held: It was not necessary to decide whether a declaration as to the criminality or otherwise of future conduct can ever properly be made by a civil court. It would be … Continue reading Imperial Tobacco Ltd v Attorney-General: HL 1980
The defendant company did not accept that it had accepted special waste at its disposal plant. Instead they claimed to have the appropriate licence or exemption. Held: The burden of establishing acceptance of special waste was not on the defendant ,on a balance of probabilities, but lay on the prosecution. In effect he was claiming … Continue reading Environment Agency v M E Foley Contractors ltd and Another: QBD 18 Jan 2002
Appeal by way of case stated pursuant to section 111 of the Magistrates Courts Act 1980 against the refusal of the DJ at Oxford Magistrates Court, to stay the prosecution against them as an abuse of process. Judges: Lady Justice Whipple And Mrs Justice Collins Rice Citations: [2022] EWHC 425 (Admin) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England … Continue reading Pugsley and Another v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 2 Mar 2022
The claimant had faced an application for a closure order on his premises for their use for unlawful drugs. The matter was adjourned twice at his request. On the third occasion he sought to rely upon the need for a closure order to be confirmed with 14 days to say that the order must lapse. … Continue reading Regina (Brian Turner) v Highbury Magistrates Court: QBD 11 Oct 2005
Statements in support of a committal under 6(1) or 6(2) are to be admissible also under section 102. Citations: Times 22-Mar-1996 Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 Criminal Evidence, Magistrates Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.86888
It is the entry of a not guilty plea which actually begins the trial process, not the trial itself. A magistrate may commit for trial even after a not guilty plea has been entered but before the trial begins. Citations: Times 22-Feb-1996, Gazette 20-Mar-1996 Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 25(2) Criminal Practice, Magistrates Updated: 09 … Continue reading Regina v Horseferry Road Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate Ex Parte K: QBD 22 Feb 1996
Decision on what is to happen on one of three Justices retiring is for open court. Citations: Ind Summary 29-Jan-1996 Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 121(1) Magistrates Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.86611
Justices must consider the extent of their powers of sentencing when choosing to try a case summarily. Citations: Gazette 28-Feb-1996, Times 06-Feb-1996 Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 19(3) Criminal Practice, Magistrates Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.86668
The Court’s convenience does not justify a trial in the absence of the defendant. Citations: Times 16-Mar-1994 Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 142 Criminal Practice Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.86537
The defendant’s behaviour complained of must be at least unreasonable if not unlawful to found a binding over for breach of the peace. Simon Brown LJ said: ‘the court would surely not find a s.115 complaint proved if any violence likely to have been provoked on the part of others would be not merely unlawful … Continue reading Nicol and Another v Director of Public Prosecutions: QBD 22 Nov 1995
Judges: The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (Lord Bingham of Cornhill) And Mr Justice Klevan Citations: [2000] EWHC 654 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes:
The court was asked whether magistrates’ courts have a discretion to extend the time to state a case after the expiration of the 21 days specified in section 111(2) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (the 1980 Act) as the time within which an application for a case to be stated for the opinion of … Continue reading Mishra v Colchester Magistrates’ Court: Admn 14 Nov 2017
An award of costs is inevitable after a finding of statutory nuisance and such costs include cost of establishing the nuisance. ‘The wide discretion as to whether to grant an adjournment conferred by section 10 and section 54 of the Magistrates’ Court Act 1980 cannot, usually, be impugned. But it is a power which must … Continue reading Regina v Dudley Magistrates Court ex parte Hollis; Robert v Same: Admn 25 Nov 1997
That the same rules apply to time limits for prosecution of a company as for others, for summary offences, did not apply to either way offences tried summarily. Times 09-Dec-1997, Gazette 17-Dec-1997, [1997] EWHC Admin 1045 Magistrates Courts Act 1980 127, Companies Act 1986 731(2) England and Wales Criminal Practice, Company Updated: 03 January 2022; … Continue reading Regina v Thames Magistrates’ Court ex parte Horgan: Admn 25 Nov 1997
A challenge was made as to whether the magistrates had jurisdiction in an allegation of burglary, or whether the case should have been committed to the Crown Court. [1997] EWHC Admin 760
The appellant’s daughter had been stopped entering the country with andpound;150,000 in cash. The police sought an order for its forfeiture, suspecting a link with terrorism. The magistrates found no evidence of such, and declined to make the order, but equally refused to award the defendant her costs. She now appealed against the refusal to … Continue reading Perinpanathan, Regina (on The Application of) v City of Westminster Magistrates Court and Another: CA 4 Feb 2010
The court heard appeals from rulings under the 2004 Act.
Held: In section 1, the hunting of a wild mammal did not include the search for an animal with a view to flushing it from cover. As to the exemptions, the operation of the 1980 Act and . .
1267 – 1278 – 1285 – 1297 – 1361 – 1449 – 1491 – 1533 – 1677 – 1688 – 1689 – 1700 – 1706 – 1710 – 1730 – 1737 – 1738 – 1751 – 1774 – 1792 – 1793 – 1804 – 1814 – 1819 – 1824 – 1828 – 1831 – 1832 … Continue reading Acts
The defendant appealed against her conviction for racially aggravated criminal damage. The court considered whether it was possible to leave the matter for the jury without an additional count on the indictment, and whether a low value charge was indictable, triable either way, or summary. Held: The rules restricting the selection of mode of trial … Continue reading Regina v Fennell: CACD 17 May 2000
When calculating the value of damage for the purpose of deciding whether an allegation of criminal damage could be referred to the Crown Court, the damage was the replacement value and not the consequential losses. An activist was accused of damaging genetically engineered crops. The replacement value was andpound;750, but the consequential losses amounted to … Continue reading Regina v Colchester Justices Ex Parte Abbott: QBD 13 Mar 2001
The CPS appealed the refusal of the respondent magistrates to decline jurisdiction to hear allegations against a youth. Held: The magistrates had applied the wrong test, asking themselves whether a sentence substantially greater than two years might be imposed. They should have considered merely the threshhold of two years. Also the court had allowed itself … Continue reading Crown Prosecution Service (Redbridge Section), Regina (on the Application Of) v Redbridge Youth Court and Another: Admn 8 Jun 2005
A defendant is deemed to have surrendered to court custody when attending as directed; a surety was not estreated when he failed to attend at a later hearing after an adjournment.Sir Thomas Bingham MR (dissenting) said that there is nothing in the process of arraignment which in law requires, or in fact amounts to, a … Continue reading Regina v Central Criminal Court Ex Parte Guney: CA 2 Feb 1995
Following his conviction for false accounting, a confiscation order was made against the defendant. After agreeing various adjournments the prosecutor said that the magistrates court had no power to allow such an adjournment under section 75(2) of the 1980 Act, because section 75(2)(a) of the 1988 Act did not allow magistrates to remit any part … Continue reading Crown Prosecution Service v Greenacre: Admn 3 Apr 2007
The appellant had been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and a confiscation order pounds 5.4m with six years in default. Small payments were made later by his receivers, but the interest had taken the total sums due over pounds 8m at the time of payments. The Court was asked say whether when calculating the credit … Continue reading Gibson, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 24 Jan 2018
‘The issue in the case is whether the words ‘the said sum . . as was due at the time the period of detention was imposed’ in section 79(2) of the Magistrates’ Court Act (MCA) 1980 should be construed in the case of confiscation orders made under the Drug Trafficking Act 1994 (DTA) as meaning … Continue reading Gibson, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: CA 11 Nov 2015
Judges: Gosnell HHJ Citations: [2013] WLR(D) 344, [2014] 1 WLR 2658, [2013] EWHC 2481 (Admin) Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes:
(Jamaica) Customs investigating officers on attended the appellant’s premises in the course of an investigation of fraudulent importation. The officers were met by a hostile crowd, and the claimant did not attend for interview as invited. A search warrant was obtained and executed. The claimants said the warrant was unconstitutional and unlawful and sought return … Continue reading Attorney General v Danhai Williams and others: PC 12 May 1997
The defendant appealed against a Magistrate’s order for his committal for failure to make payments under a maintenance order registered at the court. Held: The Magistrate did not have power to commit the defendant to prison without having satisfactory evidence of his ability to pay. Judges: Holman J Citations: [2013] EWHC 3688 (Fam), [2014] 1 … Continue reading Constantinides v Constantinides: FD 6 Nov 2013
A defendant seeking to avoid answering questions so as not to incriminate himself is to be given some understanding and latitude in respecting his own interpretation. The beneficiary of a pardon could be called upon to incriminate himself because he merited no protection: ‘the effect of which [the pardon] was to make him a new … Continue reading Regina v Boyes: 27 May 1861
Appeals were brought complaining as to the apparent reversal of the burden of proof in road traffic cases and in cases under the Terrorism Acts. Was a legal or an evidential burden placed on a defendant? Held: Lord Bingham of Cornhill said: ‘The overriding concern is that a trial should be fair, and the presumption … Continue reading Sheldrake v Director of Public Prosecutions; Attorney General’s Reference No 4 of 2002: HL 14 Oct 2004
The defendant had applied for an adjournment of the council’s application for a liability order. The court made an order without considering the application, not having been told of it. On later discovering the application, they set aside the liability order to consider the application. The council objected. Held: Although no statutory basis existed for … Continue reading Liverpool City Council v Pleroma Distribution Ltd: Admn 21 Nov 2002
Magistrates who had dismissed a prosecution for the failure of the prosecutor to attend court and without any consideration of the merits, were able to hear a subsequent summons issued on same facts. Citations: Times 18-May-1998, Times 18-May-1998, Gazette 10-Jun-1998 Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 15 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Magistrates, Criminal Practice Updated: 18 … Continue reading Environment Agency v Campbell and Another: QBD 18 May 1998
The defendant appealed by case stated against an order allowing the amendment of an information against him. He was first accused of failing to provide a specimen of breath for testing after being stopped and suspected of driving with excess alcohol. The officer had however accepted that he had a proper reason for not providing … Continue reading Crann v Crown Prosecution Service: Admn 27 Feb 2013
The claimant appealed against the refusal of the return of money seized from him by the respondent’s officers under the 2002 Act. The magistrates had declined jurisdiction saying that the complaint was out of time. The claimant said that his request was neither a complaint nor an information so as to fall foul of the … Continue reading Davis v Leicestershire Constabulary: Admn 18 Jul 2012
Prosecutor’s appeal against refusal of adjournment. Judges: Lord Justice Keene Mr Justice Jack Citations: [2006] EWHC 1108 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes:
The magistrates were asked to make a finding against a dog which was kept within their jurisdiction, but where the incident upon which the application was based, had occurred in Scotland. The appellant contended it should have been heard in Scotland because of section 52 of the 1980 Act. Held: The 1871 Act conferred a … Continue reading Shufflebottom v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester: Admn 7 Feb 2003
Evidence of deceased complainants statement was admissible – still a person. Citations: Ind Summary 08-May-1995 Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 106-1 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Evidence Updated: 27 October 2022; Ref: scu.88028
A prisoner who had been remanded to police cells had no claim of damages for false imprisonment for his later non-release. Citations: Times 07-Feb-1996 Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 128(7) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Torts – Other Updated: 27 October 2022; Ref: scu.81577
Where a youth appears with an adult on a grave crime allegation in an adult court, and the case against the adult does not proceed, the assessment of whether the youth should be committed to the Crown Court must be carried out by the adult court. Citations: Gazette 13-May-1998, [1998] 1 All ER 11 Statutes: … Continue reading Regina v Tottenham Youth Court Ex Parte Fawzy: CACD 13 May 1998
Statement by victim was admissible after death – ‘person’ not ‘living person’. Citations: Times 07-Apr-1995 Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 106-1 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Evidence Updated: 08 October 2022; Ref: scu.88029
A defendant indicating guilt at the plea before venue hearing was entitled to greater discount for that guilty plea than a defendant entering plea at the pre trial review at Crown Court. Crown Courts are to reduce sentencing discounts accordingly. Citations: Times 09-Apr-1998, (1998) 2 Cr App R (S) 449, 450, [1998] EWCA Crim 1126 … Continue reading Regina v Rafferty: CACD 30 Mar 1998
The claimant had been detained by the US in Guantanamo Bay suspected of terrorist involvement. He sought to support his defence documents from the respondent which showed that the evidence to be relied on in the US courts had been obtained by torture, and in particular by the hiding of his detention for many months … Continue reading Mohamed, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No 1): Admn 21 Aug 2008
World-wide freezing orders had been made under the 1982 Act. The defendants were members of a Turkish family with substantial business interests in the telecommunications industry. In breach of orders made in the US some defendants had sought to hide their assets. They had failed to respond as required to orders to disclose their assest, … Continue reading Motorola Credit Corporation v Uzan and others (No 2): CA 12 Jun 2003
The defendant was accused of burglary. On discovery by the householder, he resisted detention. The magistrates took that as violence in the course of the burglary, and sent the case to the Crown Court. Held: The force used by the occupier was lawful, and the resistance was part and parcel of the burglary for the … Continue reading Regina v McGrath: CACD 30 Jun 2003
The DPP sought directions as to the issuing of voluntary bills of indictment to have transferred to the Crown Court, allegations of robbery against youths between 12 and 14. Held: A child convicted of an offence for which an adult would receive a custodial sentence can receive a maximum youth training order of 24 months. … Continue reading Regina (Director of Public Prosecutions) v Camberwell Youth Court; Regina (H) v Camberwell Youth Court: QBD 23 Jul 2004
The defendant appealed against an order for costs made against her after service and enforcement of an abatement notice with respect to an audible intruder alarm at her premises. She had first lodged an appeal to the Crown Court, but argued that having abandoned it more than three days before the hearing it had been … Continue reading Wilson v Ashford Borough Council: Admn 9 Mar 2010
Judges: Langstaff J Citations: [2010] EWHC 661 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes:
Where on a previous occasion the defendant had been acquitted with a formal verdict, after the prosecution had offered no evidence, it was not open to the prosecution later to return and allege a more serious offence based upon the same facts. The defendant was entitled to the benefit of the plea of autrefois acquit. … Continue reading Regina v G (Autrefois acquit): CACD 25 May 2001
If a Crown Court could properly sentence youth aged between 14 and 17 to more than two years then the Magistrates should commit the youth to the Crown Court. Only if the nature of the offence was such that the Crown Court could not properly exercise its section 53(2) powers should the justices take the … Continue reading Regina v Inner London Youth Court Ex Parte Director of Public Prosecutions: QBD 4 Apr 1996
Justices are not entitled to decide on mode of trial in order to avoid separate trials. Citations: Times 03-Apr-1995 Statutes: Magistrates Courts Act 1980 19 20 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Practice Updated: 23 July 2022; Ref: scu.86967
The applicants sought judicial review of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal’s refusal of leave to appeal. The court had to decide whether such a right survived section 101 of the 2001 Act. Held: The right to have a judicial review could only be removed by the clearest of words. A right remained, but it was severely … Continue reading Regina (G) v Immigration Appeal Tribunal; Regina (M) v Immigration Appeal Tribunal: Admn 25 Mar 2004
The appellants appealed a bind-over for a finding that each appellant had been guilty of conduct whereby a breach of the peace was likely to be occasioned. The appellants, concerned about cruelty to animals, had obstructed an angling competition by seeking to distract the fish and to dissuade the anglers from catching them. No violence … Continue reading Regina v Nicol and Selvanayagam: QBD 10 Nov 1995
The several applicants had been arrested in different circumstances and each charged with breach of the peace contrary to common law. Under the Magistrates’ Court Act 1980, the court can bind over a Defendant to keep the peace, if the Defendant consents, and impose a sentence of up to 6 months’ imprisonment if the Defendant … Continue reading Steel and Others v The United Kingdom: ECHR 23 Sep 1998
The council cancelled the respondent’s registration as a child minder. The respondent appealed to the Magistrates, and succeeded, the court finding that the process undertaken by the council had infringed his rights. On appeal the council succeeded. The magistrates should have looked beyond procedural issues. The appeal to them required a hearing de novo. The … Continue reading Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council v Grant: FD 17 Sep 2001
Judges: Gross LJ, Sweeney J Citations: [2018] EWHC 1044 (Admin), [2018] WLR(D) 276, [2018] 2 Cr App R 18, [2018] LLR 447, [2018] 1 WLR 3792, [2018] Crim LR 756 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes:
A serving prisoner was stabbed to death in his cell. The appellant admitted that he had punched the victim twice but maintained that another man had stabbed him, which explained the incriminating presence of the victim’s blood in the vicinity of the appellant’s cell and on his hand. As the victim lay dying, he uttered, … Continue reading Musone v Regina: CACD 23 May 2007
The applicant sought judicial review of the refusal of the magistrates to state a case for him to appeal to the High Court. He had been convicted of failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis. The magistrates considered the request frivolous within the 1980 Act. He held, as a finding of fact, that … Continue reading Regina v Inner London Justices ex parte Cukic: Admn 1 Sep 1995
The defendant was charged with driving with excess alcohol and being in charge of a vehicle with excess alcohol. It was clear that on the facts the former charge included the latter. The magistrates found the facts proved but convicted only on the driving charge and acquitted on the lesser charge. The prosecutor appealed by … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutors v Gane: Admn 1991
The court objected to the insistence on leaving the burden throughout a prosecution on the defendant on the ground that ‘the discharge of an evidential burden proves nothing – it merely raises an issue’. The House emphasised the special nature of the provisions, saying there was little doubt that the occasions upon which a statute … Continue reading Regina v Hunt (Richard): HL 1987
The defendant had admitted an offence under the 1997 Act but the magistrates had declined to make a restraining order. The police then sought and anti-social behaviour order. The defendant objected saying that the events upon which the claim was based were more tan six months old and not admissible. Held: It was important not … Continue reading Chief Constable of West Mercia Constabulary v Boorman: Admn 2 Nov 2005
The court considered three appeals where there had been a procedural irregularity, and where the judge had taken some step to overcome that irregularity. In two cases the Crown Court judge had reconstituted himself as a district judge to correct a decision before going on with the case. Held: The court should consider first whether … Continue reading Ashton , Regina v; Regina v Draz; Regina v O’Reilly: CACD 5 Apr 2006
An indictment had not been signed despite a clear statutory provision that it should be. The defects were claimed to have been cured by amendment before sentence. Held: The convictions failed. Sections 1(1) and 2(1) of the 1933 Act which provided for a bill of indictment (which had of itself no legal standing save as … Continue reading Clarke, Regina v; Regina v McDaid: HL 6 Feb 2008
The police applied to the court for a closure order in respect of premises they said were being used for the sale of Class A drugs. The tenant sought an adjournment, which was granted as were two later applications. On the last hearing, the police did not appear and the application was dismissed as out … Continue reading Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v Hooper: QBD 16 Feb 2005
The court considered the principles for sentencing for sexual assaults by youths and the decision of magistrates whether to decline jurisdiction. Leveson J: ‘That the position would be different for an older person is obvious. Had an adult behaved in this manner to a 13 year old boy, sexual gratification would have been an obvious … Continue reading H and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Southampton Youth Court: Admn 2 Dec 2004
In 2002 the SFO was investigating allegations that drug companies were selling generic drugs, including penicillin-based antibiotics and warfarin, to the National Health Service at artificially sustained prices. To further the investigation the SFO obtained search warrants and executed them. The company challenged the release of the documents recovered to other government departments. They had … Continue reading Regina (Kent Pharmaceuticals Ltd) v Serious Fraud Office: CA 11 Nov 2004
The defendant argued that the written charge in the case had not been issued within the necessary time period. He said that it had not been issued until it was in some way publicly available. The respondent argued that the requirement was satisfied at the point where the relevant prosecutor determined to issue it. The … Continue reading Brown v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 2 Apr 2019
The Magistrates committed the defendant to the Crown Court for sentence. In addition to other sentences the Crown Court imposed a confiscation order. The defendant succeeded in an appeal to the Court of Appeal, and the Crown now appealed. Held: The Crown Court had full power to make such an order. There had been no … Continue reading Regina v Pope (Criminal): HL 20 Jun 2002