The chairman of Bingley magistrates has complained to Eccleshill police after a sick woman and her partner were sent to the wrong Court.

Ann Norton hit out after mother-of-two Leanne Knell, 23, an agoraphobic and manic depressive, and Paul Tiler were sent to Keighley Court instead of Bingley.

Mrs Norton and her two male colleagues had to retire for several minutes yesterday after Knell's distress became so acute the proceedings had to be halted.

They later returned and the case in which the couple are charged with causing cruelty to five domestic rats, was adjourned.

But Mrs Norton made her displeasure evident saying: "The bench are making a complaint that you were sent to Keighley."

The court clerk was then instructed to write to Eccleshill police outlining her concerns.

The couple, of Westroyd Drive, Windhill, Shipley, pleaded not guilty to the charge and the matter was adjourned to February 14 at Bingley Magistrates' Court.

Afterwards, Tiler, 31, said: "I think it's disgusting for the police to make mistakes like this. We turned up at Keighley at 9.30am and were told we should not be there. I explained the situation and I was told if we didn't turn up at Bingley the case could be heard in our absence.

"We only just had enough money to get there on the train. This is a distressing situation for anyone to be in, let alone for someone who has other problems. I have never seen her have a panic attack like that before."

Deborah Oldfield, senior administration officer at Bingley Magistrates Court, said after the hearing was adjourned: "Mrs Norton has asked me to write to the officer-in-charge at Eccleshill police station pointing out that the warrant that was issued should have bailed them to Bingley court not Keighley and the problems that this has caused, in particular that the woman concerned was ill and that having to go to Keighley and then to Bingley has aggravated it. I understand that she was very distressed."

Acting Inspector Tim Kingsman, of Eccleshill police, said: "It appears that an instruction was issued to police in November that all defendants were to be bailed to Keighley not Bingley while Bingley courts were refurbished over six months.

"However, unbeknown to Eccleshill a court dealing with certain matters such as bail warrants was still operating at Bingley. No formal notification was given. In this case we should have bailed the defendants to Bingley."

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