Rule 11 Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2011

In rule 37.8 (Written guilty plea: special rules), for paragraph (4) substitute—

“(4)

If the defendant does not withdraw the notice before the hearing date, then on or after that date—

(a)

to establish the facts of the offence and other information about the defendant, the court may take account only of the material and any representations served under this rule (and rule 37.10(3) to (9) inclusive must be read accordingly);

(b)

unless the court otherwise directs, the prosecutor need not attend; and

(c)

the court may accept such a guilty plea and pass sentence in the defendant’s absence.”.