[A] NUMBER of cases at Carlisle Crown Court were held in partial darkness this morning after a power cut hit the Earl Street building.
Electricity was lost across that area of the city centre for over an hour. But despite main lighting and then a back-up supply failing, cases did go ahead in front of a judge in one crown court room.
The only light for those hearings came from a large window high on one wall.
As he stood in the dark dock, one defendant who had his case adjourned was told by Judge James Adkin: “I am sorry we have had to conduct this hearing in crepuscular gloom.
“We are stuck with the conditions.”
In addition, a trial jury missing one member who had reportedly been snowed in was told by Judge Adkin before being sent home for the day: “We have lost power to the building and surrounding area.”
Power was restored to the building, including courtrooms, at around 11-05am.
A spokesman for HM Courts & Tribunals Service confirmed: “There was a short power cut this morning at Carlisle Combined Court.
“No hearings were affected and the court is operating as normal.”
Electricity North West said almost 1,000 customers in and around the city centre had lost power due to damage to equipment.
