Family and Friends Forum

Usually they receive the charges first, then they go to the magistrates to enter a plea. After that, it will probably go to the crown court for sentencing, about a month later.

The phone should already have been searched and charges will depend on what was said in the conversations.

KateC when was he arrested? As mentioned above, the person is arrested under suspicion (usually due to intelligence) and then devices are sent off to determine what they want to charge with, but this police decision has to go through CPS and you only find out the actual charges once they have agreed and given the police the go ahead. Once charges have been made, you go to the magistrates for a plea hearing (basically guilty or not guilty). If they say guilty it goes straight to crown court for sentencing, if they go not guilty then it kick starts a trial with jury at the crown court. Each of these phases can take many months and cumulatively it can take years to get through the whole process from start to finish. Hope that's helpful. Xx