SecretCourtReporter

This week I was linked-in remotely to a GBH trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown court. However, the microphone in the witness box (Court 5) did not work when the victim was giving evidence, which sort of defeated the whole point of what I was attempting to achieve.

Recently at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court a high-profile race case was heard at 1.45pm, instead of the listed 2.00pm, because the AM list ended at 12.45pm. Fortunately, I applied in court to be availed of the facts and the prosecutor did it on the spot in front of the justices.

When I attended the sentencing at Croydon Crown Court of footballer Lee Hughes for assault the 2.00pm listing was switched by an agitating lawyer to 12.45pm. Myself and other reporters missed it, but fortunately a helpful CPS lawyer, who is now quite senior, filled me in.

This is outrageous and I have also witnessed it. Courts often bring cases forward to suit the convenience of Judges/Magistrates/Lawyers regardless of the listed time. There may have also been other interested parties who have been disenfranchised.

Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Paloma Rao threw her weight behind defending a legal advisor at Bromley Magistrates' Court, who was determined to obstruct me covering an important case. Can you spot the gross error she has made, which breaches the @hmcts media guidance?

I complained and a court manager apologised and wrote: "I have reminded all court staff of the guidance, including the provision that members of the press should not be required to cover proceedings from the public gallery where suitable seating is available within the courtroom"

Bench Chairwoman Joanne Rutledge was keen not to stay too late at Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court last Wednesday: "We are not sitting past 5.00pm. There's an eclipse on."

A nice experience outside Bromley Magistrates' Court this morning while I was waiting to take a photo of an arrival. A female security guard came out and said: "Hello. Would you like a cup of water? It's very hot out here."

I eventually (after much resistance) did get the name, but only after standing up and making an application in the middle of a busy court list. Credit to the CPS rep, who backed me, against a bench Chair determined to keep her first name a secret despite doling out justice.

A note to @HMCTSgovuk. Below is how the bench magistrates are listed on the .gov.uk website which lists cases. You will see you are not in compliance with your own media guidelines that insist FULL names must be given 'Mr' & 'Mrs' is insufficient. You need to include first names.

When there's a few quid in it for her Bridgerton actress @andoh_adjoa is happy to mug for the camera. However, her 'mini-entourage' did everything they could to block me outside Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court, where she was fined for speeding. Pathetic.

Important court press lists of magistrates' cases are restricting vital information. Example: Today I have a sexual assault/GBH case at a HMO. However, the address/location of the offence is not given, simply 'in the Borough of Wandsworth.' Not good enough.

Congratulations @DailyMirror for a truly VIZ-style front page. Ex-footballer Chris Kamara had a slightly elevated PSA blood prostrate score (as do many men) and a further simple check confirmed he had nothing to worry about. Yes, that's it. That's yer lot. No cancer. Never was.

Yesterday, I saw @TheMrLoophole fail to save his client @LaPlanteLynda from a 6 month ban for x5 speeding offences in a 20mph. She already had x3 offences for the same road, the A308. The 3 magistrates were having none of it. Here's my pic of them leaving.

Today, @linsey_smith of @BBCNews said: "since the verdicts came through this afternoon," while attending the SENTENCING of Hull funeral director Robert Bush, who had already pleaded guilty to 67 charges. There was no trial, no 'verdicts' were reached today. Really poor reporting.

This week an urgent email request for a terrrorism search warrant was mistakenly shared by Westminster Magistrates' Court to over 50 media court list subscribers. Unsurprisingly this has caused a major panic and days later requests are still coming in to delate all the material.

Last week at Highbury Corner your ill-informed legal advisor ignored your own @hmcts media guidance, claiming: "We have no press seats," in a vast courtroom with over 20 available. Still having to fight against this level of ignorance and pettiness is draining.

Some accurate legal observations here regarding the black cab driver from @Lizevanslondon. Yes, you are correct regarding the time limit and new circumstances. What helped the cabbie was this speeding offence pre-dated his first successful 'exceptional hardship' hearing.

Good news for black cabbie and his poorly brother in Jamaica, who he sends money to and the female District Judge took into account. He's kept his licence based on 'exceptional hardship' again! A rare result. £410 to pay and 3 points, but no disqualification.

I have a black cab driver up for speeding, who already avoided a ban despite having 12 penalty points when he claimed 'exceptional hardship'. He's now claiming 'exceptional hardship' again for a new offence of speeding in a 20mph zone on the New Kent Road.