What To Do When Attending Court

Arrival At Court

On the day of your court appearance, we recommend attending 45 minutes to an hour before your hearing. The Courts have strict deadlines and will not wait if you are running late, matters can be heard in the absence of the defendant.

 Once you arrive at court, you should report to the Court reception and the Usher on duty. If your Barrister has arrived, they will let them know you have arrived.

In Court

 At the time of your hearing, the court Usher will direct you into the Court and show you where to stand. The Court Clerk will then ask you to confirm your personal details. Next, the Clerk will read out the driving offences  alleged against you. Here you should plead either guilty or not guilty depending on your individual case.

 The prosecution will read out a summary of the alleged offence/s, going into detail about what happened and show any evidence they may have. The Crown Prosecution Service ( CPS) will also discuss any similar or previous convictions.

 If you have a Barrister present ( we strongly recommend this), they will then explain the details of the case and explain your mitigation. If you have an exceptional hardship or special reasons argument for example, this is when the Barrister will put this forward.

 After hearing your defence, the CPS can then call you to the stand and cross examine you. Once the Magistrates have heard the full case they will review and make a decision.

If you have been charged with a motor offence, contact the team for a free consultation on 01772 447000 or reach out to us on our 7 day a week WhatsApp helpline 07869760533.