A judge reprimanded an incompetent attorney for being in court in Newport, Wales, when he should have been 150 miles away in Newport, Isle of Wight, for a case.
Brad Lawler had traveled from London to Newport to collect the case from a colleague after learning it was located there.
Instead of taking the ferry to Newport, the county seat of the Isle of Wight, he traveled across the Severn Bridge to Newport, Wales.
Mr. Lawler was had to explain through zoom call why he was in the wrong court, country, and city for the hearing.
The error resulted in “not insignificant” expenses to the public, according to Judge Recorder Malcolm Gibney.
Brad Lawler had traveled from London to Newport to pick up the case from a colleague after learning that it was located there.
Recorder Gibney apologized to the defendant for his defense attorney being in the incorrect court and for there being no prosecution attorney present.
It looks that your attorney traveled to Newport, Wales, he remarked.
There is no justification for the lack of prosecution either. It should not occur.
Keith Heselton, a resident of Whitchurch, Hampshire, was scheduled to appear at the Isle of Wight County Court for a normal plea and trial preparation hearing.
Two counts of rape, three counts of sexually assaulting a girl, two counts of engaging in sexual conduct in the presence of a child, and two counts of forcing or persuading a girl to participate in sexual activity were to be pled.
The 63-year-old Heselton was left without legal counsel after Mr. Lawlor of law firm 3 Temple Gardens proceeded to Newport Crown Court instead.
To make matters worse for the red-faced attorney, he was unable to explain why 3TG, who were expected to provide prosecution counsel, failed to do so.
He took the Severn Bridge to Newport, Wales, rather than the ferry to Newport, the county town of the Isle of Wight (pictured: Newport Crown Court)
Keith Heselton, from Whitchurch in Hampshire, was scheduled to appear at the Isle of Wight County Court for a regular plea and trial preparation hearing (pictured)
Mr. Lawlor indicated through video link from Wales that a colleague inside the firm was notified too late to take on the matter.
The judge stated, “This is a very unacceptable situation” and ordered 3TG to explain in writing why things had gone so awry.
“These are quite serious charges that carry a prison sentence, therefore he needs counsel.”
He was brought to the Isle of Wight at considerable public expense.
The judge remanded Mr. Heselton in detention until his reappearance on November 21 and prevented lawyers from appearing via video connection.
As a parting blow at the defense attorney, the judge stated, “I’m sure it’s not lost on you that it’s in Newport, Isle of Wight.”