A case involving two alleged bag snatchers had to be put off for a fortnight, as no papers had been uploaded to the court’s computer system by the prosecution.

Leigh Hart, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court on Thursday (September 14) that ‘something of a muddle has happened behind the scenes’.

As a result, the barristers were ‘severely lacking’ in any of the papers that would normally have been uploaded before a plea hearing at the crown court such as the charge sheet – called an indictment – or the defendants’ list of previous convictions.

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Part of the problem was that the case had been investigated by British Transport Police and overseen by Crown Prosecution Service lawyers based in the West Midlands rather than the Thames Valley, the court heard.

Ms Hart said that for ‘some unknown reason’ it appeared a decision had been made to split the two defendants, who faced identical allegations that they stole a bag from a woman at Oxford railway station in February.

The two defendants were given slightly different case numbers by the prosecution, causing ‘no end of issues’ and now nothing could be uploaded to the court’s digital case system.

Judge Ian Pringle KC was forced to adjourn the case in any event, however, as both defendants had refused to get on the custody van from Thameside Prison, where they are being held.

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He put the case off to October 6, when both defendants are expected to appear via video link.

“That should give enough time for British Transport Police to communicate with you,” the judge told Ms Hart.