A YORK judge has publicly criticised the way a specialist prosecution unit prepares serious cases for trial.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said the lack of information and official legal documents from the CPS's rape and sexual offences unit (RASOU) for plea and trial preparation (PTP) hearings is hampering judges in ensuring cases are dealt with efficiently and trials happen on time.

Defendants get shorter sentences if they save the CPS and courts the cost of preparing and running trials by pleading guilty at their PTP hearing.

Adjourning one case earlier this week for more information the judge told one defendant: "You are charged with an incredibly serious offence, you are brought before a crown court with all that entails and you don't really know what is said against you."

He told York Crown Court: “In cases handled by this specialist unit, time after time, the defence hasn’t got the evidence and the court hasn’t got the evidence by the hearing which is supposed to be the last hearing before the trial. I would like to have a conversation with those preparing cases about the way to do it.”

The newly appointed head of the RASOU unit for North and West Yorkshire. Liz Jenkins, said after The Press contacted the CPS about the judge's comments, that she had arranged to meet him and that sex cases are a top priority for the CPS.

Ms Jenkins said: "As a matter of standard practice we ensure we have done as much preparatory work as possible before a case is charged and that the defence have been made aware of the allegations and evidence that supports it.

"Our administrative processes are designed to support the efficient prosecution of these cases and to ensure that the correct material arrives at court at the right time."

She said of the lack of information for the case at which the judge made his comments: "This was an error and I am keen to see it is not repeated. To that end I have contacted Judge Stubbs and arranged to meet him to discuss his concerns further. The efficient prosecution of crimes of rape, and serious sexual offences remain a top priority area for the CPS."