Kent Courts

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court surprised a judge today when they asked if they could ditch the foreperson and appoint a new one! It was the first time in his long career he had received such a request. They were told they could. A foreman or woman will deliver a verdict

In The Dock, our Kent courts newsletter, is out tomorrow with stories about a man with a pretty accurate tattoo (below) and criminals avoiding jail due to overcrowding... Sign up 👇🏽 bit.ly/kolbriefing

A judge today told jurors the south east circuit’s crown court backlog stands at about 58,000, adding the justice system is “short of courts and short of judges.” @CourtsIdle @BarristerSecret

A case at Maidstone Crown Court has had to be delayed as the day the trial was due to begin is the day the complainant is due to give birth! A new date in August has now been set

In The Dock, our Kent courts newsletter, is out tomorrow with stories about a torture gang (below), lavish living funded by a £2m fraud and a labradoodle... Sign up 👇🏽 bit.ly/kolbriefing

In The Dock, our Kent courts newsletter, is out tomorrow with stories about the below man sending a vile Moonpig card and a list of the criminals locked up in February... Sign up 👇🏽 bit.ly/kolbriefing

Maidstone Crown Court waits years for its own hot drinks machine… and it worked properly for less than two weeks! And then the toilets in the building followed suit by breaking down - throwing cases into disarray… @CourtsIdle

A judge revealed his musical tastes when his mobile phone went off unexpecedly at Maidstone Crown Court and played the Beatles' Let It Be. It could have been worse… the Fab Four also recorded Help, Get Backl and Don't Let Me Down!

In The Dock, our Kent courts newsletter, is out tomorrow with stories about the below man having sex with a horse, a window pervert and a drunk woman in charge of children... Sign up 👇 bit.ly/kolbriefing

✍️ 'Victims nervously wait for their integrity to be picked apart before a jury as, understandably, their resolve to support the prosecution wanes...' writes @SeanAxtell @tehcriminalbar @BarristerSecret @CourtsIdle bit.ly/3E1IGEL

In The Dock, our Kent courts newsletter, is out tomorrow with stories about the below stable thieves, a naked man and a Happy Valley-style court break... Sign up 👇 bit.ly/kolbriefing

In The Dock, our Kent courts newsletter, is out tomorrow with stories about the below couple’s ecstasy-packed pink Mustang, a stoned lorry driver and a weaving Mercedes... Sign up 👇 bit.ly/kolbriefing

It resembles the UN Assembly! And if that wasn't confusing enough the barristers will struggle to make it to Kent today because of the rail strike! @CourtsIdle

The trial of four defendants in a people-smuggling case at Maidstone Crown Court involve interpreters speaking Vietnamese, Polish, and Kurdish but because the dock isn't big enough the interpreters are sitting in the public gallery and translating by headphones remotely 1/2

We've got more on the problems in tomorrow's In The Dock newsletter Sign up bit.ly/kolbriefing @drinker_secret @CourtsIdle

The problems with interpreters continue at Maidstone Crown Court - during a case in which Polish and Vietnamese interpreters were needed only the Polish speaker arrived... and hours after the hearing had ended a Kurdish interpreter arrived, baffling the judge.

In The Dock, our Kent courts newsletter, is out on Friday with stories about a carvery thug, a biting Asda shoplifter and a boozing football fan plus an interview with one of the unsung heroes of the justice system who is ready to quit... Sign up 👇 bit.ly/kolbriefing

There is trouble at Maidstone Crown Court where there are no cells in use and a heavily reduced list for the judges...

Our court newsletter In The Dock comes out every Friday and is packed with the latest cases and goings on from Kent's courts. This week we've got a grooming waitress, a puppy killer and a boozy McDonald's trip... Sign up 👇 bit.ly/kolbriefing

Visitors to Maidstone Crown Court today were greeted with a wonderful sign... the canteen is open for the first time in two years, serving coffees, teas and soup. The full opening will be next week.