'Out of pocket' barrister in train ticket row

Jul 31 2007

AN ANGRY barrister has demanded a refund for a train ticket after a "failure" to order a Chinese interpreter for a court case in Birmingham left him out of pocket.

Richard Orme asked Recorder Simon Lofthouse QC to make an order against the Lord Chancellor's Department to cover the costs of a return fare from Manchester.

He made his application at Birmingham Crown Court after the case of five Chinese defendants accused of offences relating to counterfeit DVDs had to be adjourned for a week because of the missing interpreter.

Mr Orme said there was a Manchester side to the case and he represented the principal defendant.

He said: "I indulged myself in a standard fare ticket from Manchester for a grand total of £48. As a result of a court error I make a loss today."

The barrister said because he was able to speak Mandarin he could tell his client what had gone on.

He said another barrister from London had also been short-changed and continued: "There are four defendants who have no idea why they were at court and two barristers not properly remunerated."

The judge said an investigation over lunch showed on the court papers that an interpreter was not needed.

He said he did not intend to carry out an inquiry.