Barrister rebuked after going to wrong Newport

A barrister missed a rape hearing after travelling 140 miles from London to the wrong Newport.

After picking up the case from a colleague, Brad Lawlor was due to attend the crown court in Newport, on the Isle of Wight, but instead crossed the Severn Bridge to Newport in south Wales.

Recorder Malcolm Gibney said: “This is very unsatisfactory.” After the error, the hearing was postponed and the defendant was remanded in custody until next Monday.