A BRADFORD judge has demanded a written explanation from a leading barristers chambers, which failed to send anyone to represent a client.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC described it as a "disgrace and impertinence."

Leeds-based Zenith Chambers did not send a barrister to represent the 17-year-old Keighley youth when he appeared at Bradford Crown Court on Friday on drugs charges.

The youth, who cannot be identified because of his age, surrendered to the court on conditional bail and his solicitor was present.

But Judge Durham Hall said he had received a message from Zenith Chambers saying they had nobody available to attend and asking him to move the case to Tuesday.

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He said: "No, I won't. I consider the letter to be a disgrace and an impertinence.

"I will ask for a full explanation. I have never in my entire career - 40 years in the court on virtually a daily basis - ever heard of a barrister's chambers saying to a judge 'we have nobody available.'"

He added: "I am not going to waste the time of the defendant, his solicitor and the prosecutor by putting this off because the barrister's chambers either forgot it, missed it, or couldn't be bothered to treat a court with respect."

Judge Durham Hall granted the youth's solicitor the authority to represent him during the short plea and case management hearing.

The youth pleaded not guilty to two charges of possessing class A drugs - heroin and crack cocaine - with intent to supply, on November 11 last year. He admitted a charge of possessing a class B drug, cannabis, on the same date.

Prosecutor Dave MacKay told the court the alleged offences took place a short distance from a school. He said a trial date had been fixed and the defendant was on conditional bail.

Judge Durham Hall confirmed the trial would take place on July 16 and renewed his bail.

Before the defendant left the dock, the judge told him: "Thank you for being here."

No-one at Zenith Chambers was prepared to comment.