Summary
A woman named Sarah dropped a sexual assault case against a taxi driver due to long court delays and the stress it caused. The delays resulted in her needing to testify again, which she felt she couldn't handle. The Ministry of Justice is working on reforms to address the backlog in court cases.
Key Facts
- Sarah dropped her sexual assault case due to court delays and personal stress.
- The incident was reported in early 2022, and she first testified in December 2023.
- The court postponed the case to September 2024 after the judge got sick.
- The case was dismissed due to lack of evidence without Sarah's testimony.
- The Ministry of Justice acknowledges the backlog issue and is planning reforms.
- Over 13,000 sexual offence cases were pending in crown courts as of June.
- Rape Crisis reported a 40% increase in the number of pending cases in two years.
- Delays affect both victims and accused individuals, prolonging their legal uncertainties.
