‘Lives on hold’: a day in the crown court where cases are delayed for years

‘There aren’t enough courtrooms, there aren’t enough judges and there aren’t enough barristers,’ says one judge and barrister. Composite: Guardian Design/Shutterstock

A man bursts out of a courtroom, shouting expletives. The judge has just ruled that his brother-in-law will not be going to prison after sexually assaulting his two young daughters.

“The justice system is a fucking joke,” he bellows, pacing ahead of his family. Another male relative mutters darkly: “We’ll find him.”