Judge attacks Kirklees Council for sweet wrapper crown court case

Jun 19 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A JUDGE has slammed a decision to take a 19-year-old girl to crown court – for dropping a sweet wrapper.

Larissa Wilkinson, of Mirfield, appeared at Bradford Crown Court yesterday charged with depositing controlled waste.

Before Larissa’s case defendants appeared in the dock charged with dangerous driving, theft and dealing heroin.

Judge Roger Scott said to Larissa: “Will you sit in the witness box please Miss Wilkinson?

“I’m definitely not having you sit in the dock.”

Adam Birkby, defending, said nothing throughout the case.

Judge Scott asked Kirklees Council’s prosecutor Austin Newman: “Can you explain to me why this charge was ever brought against this lady – she has dropped a single sweet wrapper.

“Is it controlled waste? I’ve looked it up and I don’t see how you could possibly argue that it was controlled waste.

“I cannot for the life of me see it’s appropriate.

“It’s the most inappropriate set of proceedings I’ve personally ever, ever seen and it’s a fantastic waste of community charge payers’ money.

“This was a grotesque misuse of the powers of the authorities to proceed on indictment for dropping a sweet wrapper.”

Judge Scott gave Larissa, of Sunnybank Road, a caution which she accepted.

Judge Scott said: “Miss Wilkinson, I hope you’ve enjoyed your day in court.

“Please put a sticker up in your car saying ‘no litter please except in your ashtray’.”

Judge Scott compared the case to one overseen by Judge Pickles when a Leeds woman was taken to court for taking a piece of chicken from a tub of pig swill to feed to her pet.