COURT TIME WASTED

THE TIMES.

27^th AUG , 1983

Court time wasted, judge says

A judge yesterday criticized the time wasted in bringing a minor case to the Central Criminal Court in London while prisons were crowded with people waiting trial on more serious charges. Judge Hazan’s comments came after the discovery that a trial listed for the court involved a man who allegedly fraudulently used a small amount of electricity. The man, whose name was not disclosed, had denied the charge and elected to go for trial. He was due to appear at Acton Crown Court in West London. He failed to turn up yesterday and the prosecution applied for a warrant to arrest him. The judge granted it. Judge Hazan said. "The last thing I want is that remand prisons, which are filled to overflowing, should have remanded in custody someone who is charged with fraudulent extraction of electricity.