A defendant must wait 43 months for a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, prompting the judge to reply “wow” and “oh my gosh” when told the date by his clerk.
The defendant, a 31-year-old man, had been charged with threatening members of the public with a machete in the Tower Hamlets area. He denies the allegations.
Having been granted conditional bail it was explained the next available trial date for non-custody cases was the 16th October 2028. The trial is expected to last 2-3 days.
When the defendant’s counsel was asked if they would be available for trial he dryly replied, “I won’t have retired by then“.
“That is the furthest away I have ever set a trial date but that is the position the Crown Court is in” said HHJ Charles Falk.
The previous day CPS barrister Jessica Clarke told a jury in the same courtroom “you have all witnessed the delays in the Crown Court” describing them as “totally unacceptable“. Whilst giving legal directions the judge also cited “delays in bringing this matter to court due to the unprecedented backlog in the Criminal Justice System“
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said last week that it was “disappointing that the Crown Courts backlog is now at a record high of 73,000” adding “The Government agrees with this Committee that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’.”
In response to the news about this 2028 trial date being tweeted the host of Radio 4’s You Do Not Have to Say Anything and criminal defence barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind, said “What a mess.“
The Criminal Bar Association drew attention to the fact that on the day “a court room for October 2028 can’t be fixed … 7 [out] of 20 available court rooms [are] shut.“
HHJ Falk told the defendant, who was released on bail with a GPS tag, “I am so sorry we can’t try you in what is a serious matter for three and a half years… I recognise you’re going to have your life on hold. I’m sorry about that“.
“We will have to have a pre-trial-review to ensure everyone is still alive” concluded the Judge.
Date of hearing: 12/03/2025
Mouse in the Court 