A SMALL piece of judicial history was made during a short pre-trial hearing at a North-East court centre.

For the first time a defence barrister represented a client at Durham Crown Court without leaving chambers, in this case in London.

Instead of having to make the 530-mile round trip for the plea and trial preparation hearing, Edward Henry represented a defendant facing sex charges, via speaker phone set up in the court.

Recently introduced criminal law practice directions permit such a facility in pre-trial hearings, in the wake of the successful introduction of prison to court video link for defendants across the country in recent years.

Judge Christopher Prince told Mr Henry it was the first use of the live phone link in a hearing at the court.

“It’s spared you from getting an early Kings Cross to Durham train, saving a considerable amount of time and expense in the process.

“I don’t think anything has been lost doing it like this.”

Mr Henry replied: “On the contrary, it’s taken barely quarter-of-an-hour.”