Court reporter Ann Price saved time and cash when she challenged an “illegal” sentence handed down at Maidstone Crown Court.

Judge Harvey Crush had sentenced an 18-year-old woman to nine monthsyouth custody, suspended for two years, after she admitted possessingEcstasy with intent to supply.

But Ann, Maidstone-based chief reporter with the Kent Courts Reporting Agency – ownedby Kent Messenger Group Newspapers – realised that youth custody could not be suspended on anoffender who was under 21.

The journalist passed a message to the woman’s lawyer who – afterleafing through the legal bible Archbold with the prosecutor -confirmed that the judge had made a mistake.

Judge Crush was summoned back into court to be told of the error and thenaltered the sentence to two years probation.

Afterwards, the defence lawyer told Ann: “Well done! You have saved us the time andexpense of coming back to court at a later date.”

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