A sex offender couldn’t be sentence – after question marks were raised about whether his solicitors were still operating.

James Carvell, 56, of no fixed address, was due to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday after he admitted breaching the requirements of the sex offender register by failing to notify the police about the additional address between April 1, 2020 and January 22, 2022.

He had already pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to possession of child sex abuse images, including 11 in the most serious category.

But Preetika Mathur, his barrister, raised concerns at the start of Friday’s hearing about whether her client’s firm of solicitors were still in operation. 

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“I saw the defendant in conference and was informed he had had no contact with those representing since February,” she told Judge Nigel Daly.

“I was also told that instructing solicitors have since collapsed. I have been trying to contact any representative from Selby Dixon all morning. I have had no response.

“I am unclear what my position is or if they [Selby Dixon] remain the professional client in this case.”

Typically, those accused of criminal offences are represented by a firm of solicitors, who will often pick-up cases as the ‘duty’ lawyer at the police station or the magistrates’ court. Solicitors’ firms will then ‘brief’ a barrister if the case reaches the crown court.

Judge Daly told Ms Mathur he had no power to give her the case as a ‘dock brief’, an old-fashioned and now obsolete practice where a prisoner in the dock might ask a barrister sitting in court to represent him or her.

He instead adjourned the case for a week for Carvell to establish whether Selby Dixon were still representing him and, if not, for him to find new representation.

“I know that is a pain in the neck for you because you want to get it sorted out, but it is better you get it sorted out so you can be properly represented on the next occasion,” Judge Daly said.

Matthew Knight represented the Crown Prosecution Service at Friday’s court hearing.

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Following the hearing, a spokesman for the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the body responsible for regulating solicitors’ firms, told the Oxford Mail: “According to our records, the firm is still open. If clients are struggling to get hold of anyone there, we would urge them contact us as we might be able to help.”

The Mail attempted to contact Selby Dixon prior to going to press.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward