Criminal too smelly to appear in court

London, June 1 : It was quite a stinky hearing, literally so, for a man had his case heard behind his prison cell door, as he was smelling too bad to appear in court.

Neil Turner, 59, had his case heard when staff from Perth District Court actually went together to the cells of Perth Sheriff Court two blocks away for the proceedings.

The officials decided that the court staff would remain outside due to the odour coming from the cell and would hear the case form there only. So, they opened the hatch on the cell door and asked Turner to confirm his name and address.

In fact, a court source said that the decision was quite unusual.

"It quickly became apparent he had had an unfortunate accident. It was just felt that because of the stench emanating from him that it would have meant the van and the court would have needed fumigating afterwards," the Scotsman quoted the source, as saying.

His lawyer had filed a not-guilty plea on his behalf to a charge of breaching the peace in Perth on 16 May. Initially, he was granted bail, but was then arrested within 24 hours after breaking a condition not to enter a street.

He recently appeared at Perth Sheriff Court, but was ordered to shower first, and admitted breaching bail. Later he was remanded in custody for reports.

ANI