Magistrates Court, November 2025
It's 11 am in a London Magistrates Court. The court is small and held 5 rooms; the building was tiered, with the storm blowing cold air through the weathered window panes.
Sounds of confrontation echo through the walls as Mr W, an asian man wanders into courtroom 1, with no legal representation, he was only followed by an agitated court usher.
He sits down in the defendant's booth with a singular earphone and a COVID mask around his neck. His black sequin shirt and yellow tie juxtaposed with his ripped jeans and workers' boots.
There is no legal representation present.
The defendant failed to attend his sentencing a few months prior. He was found guilty of racial abuse and minor assault against key workers. Today he will be sentenced.
The guidelines suggest he could receive up to a fine and a significant community order.
Judge enters, a soft, elderly man slowly making his way to his bench. All rose, but the defendant stayed seated. The legal advisor asked for confirmation: “May you please stand! Are you Mr W? What is your date of birth, and what is your address?”
The defendant quickly stood and responds. The Legal Advisor follows up, asking the defendant to remove his earphones
There is no legal defence present.
“We are here to issue the sentence and address the prior failure to attend court”, the judge states, but before he could finish, the defendant shouted. “I OBJECT! This area is too far for me to travel to. I left at 6 am. This is STUPID!”
His worship remains composed and assures the defendant that this isn’t his time to speak, and he will have his chance later.
The prosecution begins the story, detailing the crime, informing how Mr W barged through the train barriers, into an off-duty police officer, then made racist comments and shoved the said police officer and other TFL staff. When he was arrested and in the police station, he continued to incriminate himself with a flurry of racist remarks.
With no legal advice, the account was taken.
The witness statement was read.
The defendant remained silent.
In the absence of an advocate, his worship asked, “My W, do you have anything to say?”
With no acknowledgement of the statement, the defendant screams, ‘ PC…. PC took my phone, that's why I didn't attend!’ ‘He arrested me and took my phone for no reason’ ‘It was that guy there!’
The judge urges the defendant to lower his voice and assures him he has never met the person, whom he was accusing.
This had an inverse effect. The defendant begins to shout at the court, telling them, “This location is too far. I'm not doing my community work here. I'm telling you I'm not doing it here, I'm older than all of you. You cannot tell me what to do”.
The defendant remains without guidance.
His worship tries to regain control of the courtroom again, but it is of no use; the defendant now begins to smash on the glass, threatening the judge, court usher, legal advisor and prosecution. As he scours the courtroom, his eyes find his victim, who was watching from the benches. Without acknowledging who he is goes back to threatening violence against the judge.
The judge is escorted out. The courtroom is cleared. Security is called.
It took 48 minutes to clear the defendant from the courtroom. Within the hour, he was being transported to a custodial facility