POLICE and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan has supported a judge’s criticism of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Recorder of York Judge Paul Batty QC slammed the CPS last week for accepting a plea to a lesser charge over the theft of a quad bike from a farm in rural North Yorkshire.

William Norfolk was arrested while riding the stolen quad bike following a six-mile police chase near Harrogate, and was accused of travelling more than 20 miles to commit burglary.

He admitted careless driving and on the day the trial was due to start, prosecutors told Judge Batty a guilty plea for the lesser charge of handling stolen goods had also been accepted.

Mrs Mulligan told The Press this week the incident showed the CPS should consider how theft of farming machinery or equipment could affect farmers and rural residents, and seek the best prosecution possibly.

She said: “I agree with the judge that those in the criminal justice system need to think carefully about the impact on victims when they make decisions about the way they prosecute criminals.

“Here in North Yorkshire, we have a renewed and strengthened focus on rural crime."