Leeds Crown Court resumes sentencing of city's criminals as efforts begin to find technical solutions

A small number of cases were dealt with as four courtrooms were open for hearings less than a week after the decision was taken to halt jury trials and drastically reduce court business due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Judges and counsel communicated via Skype with all defendants appearing in court on video link from prison.

Most of the cases dealt with were plea hearings or bail applications.

Judge Tom Bayliss QC sentenced one defendant to five years and four months in prison after he entered guilty pleas to offences of aggravated burglary, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage.

Most cases went ahead with just a court clerk, an usher and IT staff present to deal with technical issues to ensure those appearing in remotely were able to communicate.

Technological solutions are having to be found after the Bar Council, which represents 17,000 barristers, advised members not to attend court unless they are satisfied with the safety arrangements in place.

Richard Wright QC, leader of the North Eastern Circuit, has called for urgent changes to be made to maintain the rule of law during the crisis.Sentencing of defendants were put on hold on Tuesday (March 24) as judges dealt with only the most "essential" cases.All jury trials were also stopped

A public notice in the building, on Oxford Row, now states: "You will be asked to confirm that you do not have any symptoms of coronavirus - such as a high temperature, fever or continuous cough.

"If you appear to have symptoms, you will not be invited into the building.

"You will need to contact the court or tribunal and legal counsel by phone."

The notice states that "extra effort" is being put into court cleaning.

"Our buildings are cleaned every day and we respond swiftly to complaints about poor hygiene.

"We are monitoring our hand washing facilities to ensure swift maintenance action.."

Extra cleaners are also being recruited to work in the building.

Every courtroom is currently cleaned at night.

Some courtrooms will have daytime cleaning from Monday March 30 and all open courtrooms will have daytime cleaning from Wednesday April 1.

The notice also advises court users: "If we have a confirmed case of coronavirus we will follow Government guidelines and carry out a deep clean of the setting or areas with which the individual would have had contact."

All drinking water fountains in the building have been closed following advice from Public Health England.