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STEEL, JOHN

Case Reference: 21GN2868325

Case Details

Open Justice Notice: This record is a public court hearing entry sourced from official HMCTS daily cause lists and is published under the principle of open justice, which holds that court proceedings must be accessible to the public and the press. Appearance in this record does not imply guilt. If this case involves a spent conviction under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, or if you believe this record is inaccurate, please contact us at contact@opencourtdata.uk.

Reference

21GN2868325

Court

North Staffordshire Justice Centre - Courtroom 04

Magistrate

Magistrates Panel

Hearing Date

20 May 2026

Time

2pm

Hearing Type

Trial

Court Type

Magistrates

Prosecutor

CPS-WM

Case Details

Offence Details: | Use threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour with intent to cause fear of / provoke unlawful violence

Next Steps at this Trial

During the trial, the prosecution presents evidence and calls witnesses to prove the defendant committed the crime. The defense cross-examines the witnesses and presents its own evidence. Once all evidence is heard, the magistrates, district judge, or a jury (in the Crown Court) will decide if the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Court Jurisdiction: Magistrates' Court - Magistrates' Courts handle virtually all summary offences (minor offences) and start the proceedings for serious offences. They are presided over by three volunteer Magistrates (advised by a legal advisor) or a single qualified District Judge. They do not have a jury.

General Case Information

This listing represents public court record proceedings for STEEL, JOHN. The legal proceedings will occur at North Staffordshire Justice Centre - Courtroom 04. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source: HMCTS Public Court Lists.
Disclaimer: The legal definitions and sentencing guidelines above are for general educational purposes under English Law and do not constitute formal legal representation or advice. If you are facing criminal prosecution, consult a qualified criminal defense solicitor immediately.

Case FAQs & Procedure Guide

A trial in the Magistrates' Court typically lasts from a few hours to a few days. Crown Court trials with a jury can last from several days to multiple weeks, depending on complexity and the number of witnesses.

If the verdict is not guilty (acquitted), the defendant is free to leave and cannot be prosecuted again for the same incident based on the same evidence.

If found guilty, the judge or magistrates will proceed to sentence the defendant, either immediately or at a separate sentencing hearing after a pre-sentence report is prepared.

For a single summary/either-way offence, magistrates can sentence a defendant to a maximum of 6 months in prison (or up to 12 months for multiple either-way offences), alongside unlimited fines and community orders.

Magistrates are trained volunteers from the local community who sit in panels of three. A District Judge is a qualified legal professional who sits alone. Both have the same sentencing powers.

Interested in the outcome of this case? You can request more information by emailing the court directly using the Email Court button at the top of the page.