Criminals are opting for crown court trials, rather than hearings before magistrates, in the hope that “scandalous delays” will force victims and witnesses to give up and withdraw their statements, according to Britain’s most senior magistrate.
Mark Beattie, the new chairman of the Magistrates Association, told The Telegraph defendants were playing the system by opting for crown court, knowing the huge backlog could mean their trial would not take place for two years. In the meantime they remain out on bail.
