Can You Help

[Cocopops123]

Hi there can you help my friend was in court yesterday he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty his trial was meant to be Monday but now he's got to go back Monday to make his guilty plea was told by his solicitor that he should bring a bag why I was on understanding he would make his plea go home and then go back in a months time for sentencing his been on bail for a little while now I hope he gets bail again till he goes back to court why was he told to take a bag with him do you think he get bail again

[Buenchico]

If your friend will be pleading guilty then all that's left to do will be the sentencing.

If the judge wants reports compiled before he passes sentence he can bail the defendant until the sentencing date if he's not sure that an immediate prison term will be handed down.

However if he's confident that he'll end up passing an immediate prison sentence anyway (with the reports only helping to determine the length of that sentence), the offender will be held on 'judge's remand'. (i.e. sent to prison, as convicted offender, to await sentencing).

If the judge doesn't want to see reports compiled before passing sentence he'll pass sentence immediately.

[Cocopops123]

His barrister said that he would go in enter the plea and go home and come back in a months time but solicitor said take a bag so u am confused he's been on bail for a while I hope he does get bail again do you think it's likely he will get it

[Smowball]

What’s he being charged with??

[Buenchico]

Without knowing the full circumstances of the case, it's impossible to know the answer to your question.

As I've stated above, if the judge is confident that he'll end up passing an immediate custodial sentence then he'll have the offender held on judge's remand, so no bail will be granted. If he's less certain about the sentence which he'll end up passing he might grant bail though.

It's important to remember that the automatic right to bail (unless there's a specific reason as to why it shouldn't be granted) only applies to defendants who've not been convicted. As soon as they plead guilty (or are found guilty by a jury) that right then ceases.

[Cocopops123]

For theft of persons when he spoke to his solicitor today they said that it's a slim chance and because he's never breached his bail then he should get it again or do you think there just saying that

[Cocopops123]

He went back yesterday and change his plea and then went into court and they said to come back Monday to plea guilty I am confused now he's been charged with theft from person

[Buenchico]

Sorry, but if two qualified and experienced legal professionals (the solicitor and barrister), who're both familiar with all the details of the case, can't agree on what the judge is likely to do then it's extremely unlikely that anyone here can offer a better opinion.

The solicitor might be just 'covering all the bases' by suggesting that the offender should be prepared for the possibility of immediately going to prison, rather than being certain that it will actually happen, but the offender would still be well-advised to heed his advice and pack a bag.

[EDDIE51]

If the solicitor has told him to bring a bag,then there is a chance of a custodial sentence . As said , without knowing the history and the actual charge it is hard to give more than very general information. But it is normal that when a custodial sentence is passed the defendant is 'taken down' immediately, straight to the cells under the court to wait for transport to prison.

[Cocopops123]

This is only a plea hearing though went yesterday and was told to come back Monday they also said it could be a 2yr suspended sentence

[Jackdaw33]

I don't understand what is meant by theft of persons.

[EDDIE51]

Yes 'could' be a suspended. But it could also be an immediate sentence.He will not know until the Judge tells him.

[EDDIE51]

I think it means theft from a person.

[Cocopops123]

We have to wait and see what happens I think what has helped is he offered to pay back 50 pounds a month to them and with no job then he can't he's got a good job and sorted his life out now he was just in a dark place 2 yrs ago

[EDDIE51]

The good news is that courts do not want people to go to jail.It achieves nothing. If your friend has made a good offer to repay and expressed remorse that will go a long way to staying out of jail.
Please let us know how it goes .

[Cocopops123]

Hi Eddie thanks for the advice so if you are guilty you can still get bail then today he emailed his solicitor with a offer of payment and to say he's sorry for what he's done I hope that helps and he gives it to barrister for Monday I hope they will let the judge know he's done that I hope they take it into account

[Cocopops123]

Hi there just want to ask as I forgot the other day my friend who's in court tomorrow crown court 4 theft he emailed his solicitor a email saying he was very sorry for what he did and he was in a bad place at the time and a offer 0f 50 pounds a month to both people he's got a good job will they take all this in account and bail him or will he got to custody await sentencing he's so sorry for what he did

[EDDIE51]

^ yes it will be taken into account. As I said yesterday it will help him stay out of jail. After all he can't repay anything if he is in jail.

[Peter Pedant]

wait until today
is the best advice
yes - bring a bag - means he may go to gaol ( in th speakers opinion)

[dannyk13]

Jack, theft from the person of another.

[bednobs]

what kind of things should you pack in a prison bag?