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> Sentenced Over the Phone!
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http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-13295097,00.html
A judge has sentenced a man over the phone after the offender became stuck in a traffic jam.
Aftab Ahmed was due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court to be sentenced for an offence relating to his bankruptcy.
But miles of tailbacks resulting from a crash on the A14 prevented him from getting to court on time.
Mr Ahmed, 44, of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, phoned his lawyer to explain the reason for his delay.
Judge Caroline Ludlow said she did not know of a reason why she should not pass sentence over the phone as she was not handing down a custodial sentence.
Mr McCarthy then phoned his client to make sure he was happy with the unusual situation and to check he was not driving.
After hearing mitigation, Judge Ludlow phoned Mr Ahmed and sentenced him to a 140-hour community punishment order and ordered him to pay £750 costs.
Court clerk Rachel Bonner said: "When she heard of the problem the judge said that to save wasting public money by adjourning the case she was considering passing sentence over the phone.
"She asked the prosecution counsel if he could think of any reason in law why she couldn't and when no reason was offered she went ahead."
Ms Bonner said she thought it was one of the first times anyone had been sentenced over the phone.
"It's very unusual. I've never heard of it before and it's never happened at Ipswich Crown Court," she said.
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Posted: 2005-02-03 17:19:11
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hahah thats absolutely brilliant!
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Posted: 2005-02-03 21:50:15
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Here's the headline tomorrow
Man sent to cell by cellphone
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Posted: 2005-02-03 22:01:35
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Hilarious but doesnt work, wasnt sentenced to jail
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Posted: 2005-02-03 22:05:16
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