A judge spoke out about delays in a new scheme aimed at speeding up court cases.

The early guilty plea scheme was introduced last year to speed up cases where a defendant admits guilt, so their plea and sentence can be dealt with at one hearing.

But Judge Patrick Eccles told a prosecutor “this keeps happening” when informed that a case listed for such a hearing could not go ahead.

Neither of the two cases listed for early guilty pleas proceeded to sentencing in front of the judge at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.

He said that a meeting to discuss the issue had been held after Christmas but had not resolved the problem.