MAGISTRATES trying to sentence a man in court have slammed Kidderminster Hospital consultants after they had to adjourn a case for a further six weeks while they wait for a report.

Chairman of the bench Roger Green said it was "disgusting" that consultants were bickering over who gets paid to perform psychiatric evaluations and causing significant delays in court cases.

Craig Arnold appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on Thursday, February 19, expecting to be sentenced for a dangerous driving, drink-driving and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress, all of which he pleaded guilty to on January 24 having committed the crimes to days earlier. The case was adjourned for almost fours weeks allowing probation time to get a psychiatric report from Kidderminster Hospital which was required before they were able to recommend a punishment and subsequent treatment because the 43-year-old suffers mental health problems.

But no report was able to be produced and a further six-week wait has been added to the court case.

Arnold's solicitor, David Howarth, said he has had to make an appointment for the defendant at a centre in Rubery, near Birmingham, because Kidderminster consultants have refused to undertake the work which is vital to the justice system.

He said: "Consultants at Kidderminster Hospitals are arguing with the Trust [Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust] as to who gets paid - them or the Trust.

"There's a lot of people in these courts who have mental health issues and Kidderminster is the nearest place to have these reports done so they can be sentenced and given the right help."

Upon hearing the case could not progress any further on Thursday, Mr Green had no choice but to adjourn until April 2.

He said: "I think that this is disgusting. I saw a brain surgeon wheeling round trolleys to speed things up the other day and we have consultants bickering about money."

A representative from West Mercia Probation Service added: "It's an unacceptable situation and we can't recommend mental health treatment if we haven't got the report."

A spokesman for Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said the problem had occurred because psychiatrists will not carry out private assessments and will only do them on behalf of the Trust, not because of money.

He said: "We are aware of the issues which have caused delays in producing an assessment in this case and the Trust will be outlining its position to relevant staff in terms of responding to requests for psychological assessments and reports. We are confident this will alleviate the risk of similar delays."

Arnold, of Wordsworth Crescent, Kidderminster, will now appear at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on April 2, almost 10 weeks after pleading guilty, to be sentenced.