JP tried to hide details of young aristocrat’s case

The Honourable Charles William Llewellyn Cadogan admitted speeding

A Justice of the Peace tried to keep full details of a titled teenager’s criminal court case hidden from the public.

Stuart Clark, who is not legally qualified, tried to prevent the public from finding out the full details of the aristocrat’s speeding offence.

The Scottish Court Service initially backed the JP’s highly unusual ruling but was forced to back down after a complaint led to an internal inquiry.

The Honourable Charles William Llewellyn Cadogan was clocked speeding through roadworks on the A9 but escaped a driving ban and was given 28 days to pay a £300 fine. Cadogan, who represented himself at Perth’s JP court, admitted the offence and made no attempt to seek special treatment from the court.

Mr Clark refused to reveal the details of a letter Cadogan had written to the court. When the press asked for sight of the letter, which contained Cadogan’s mitigation, he again refused despite guilty plea letters routinely being made public.

Cadogan, whose father is Viscount Chelsea and grandfather is the Earl of Cadogan, admitted driving at 71mph through roadworks on June 27.

The teenager, who was accompanied in court by his father, represented himself and handed a letter pleading guilty and explaining the incident to the JP.

Mr Clark read the letter privately, then said: “This is your opportunity to explain.”

Before Cadogan could say anything, he added: “I’ve read what’s said and there’s no need to repeat the letter.

“Do you have an income?” the JP asked, before again preventing Cadogan from answering. “I don’t need to know the details, I just need yes or no and if you have sufficient means to pay a fine?”

Then, the JP distinguished the wealthy heir from the run of the mill criminal offenders who normally appeared in his court.

He said: “Is there anything else I should consider? I should explain that when I say that it is normally to people who may have three or four children and be in debt.”

A Scottish Court Service spokesman initially said: “The clerk sought the JP’s decision on whether he wished the letter to be made available and his decision was that it should not be.

“That is a judicial decision, not one made by the clerk.”

A day later – after a further probe – the spokesman said conceded the letter should have been made public.

It was revealed to contain little more than a polite and fulsome apology for speeding.

Cadogan arrives at the Justice of the Peace Court in Perth with his father, Viscount Chelsea.