Case collapses after police miss court

The youths faced charges at Hull's youth court

Two youngsters accused of raiding a factory walked free from court after police officers failed to turn up and give evidence.

The youths, both aged 17, were arrested after alarms were triggered at the East Yorkshire Pine workshop, Hull.

Victim Phil Stothard criticised police after magistrates threw out the case because two officers did not attend the hearing.

The city's youth court was told that one officer was on sick leave and the other was on holiday.

I wonder how many people will be bothered reporting burglaries to the police from now on

Phil Stothard

Mr Stothard, who owns four shops and the factory, said: "I think that now burglaries are so far down the list of police priorities that all they think they have to do is turn up at the scene and record the details.

"What sort of signal will this send out to people?

"I was asked to turn up at court and closed down one of the shops so that I could make it.

"I could not believe it when I was told the police were not there.

"I wonder how many people will be bothered reporting burglaries to the police from now on."

Humberside Police Inspector Steve Page confirmed that two officers had failed to turn up for the hearing.

'No satisfaction'

He said: "We are very sorry for the victim in this case.

"Clearly he has had no satisfaction.

"A senior officer is investigating the circumstances surrounding this case to see whether it was a system fault or human error.

"We do treat burglaries as a high priority and we have reduced the number of these crimes by 25 per cent over the past year."

Ron Marshall, from the Crown Prosecution Service in Hull, said the youths, who denied burglary, were acquitted because no evidence was offered against them.

'Defendants' interests'

He said: "The case had already been adjourned once because the officer was ill.

"We applied for a second adjournment but the magistrates have to balance the interests of justice with the interests of the defendants and they were not prepared to set a trial date for a third time.

"It is disappointing for the victim and from our point of view but I respect the decision and understand why it was made."