Three men made history when they appeared before a York judge in the latest bid to speed up justice.

It took days instead of the usual months for Tang Hall man Jason Martin Johnson and two alleged Harrogate robbers in a separate case to get their appointment with Judge Paul Hoffman at York Crown Court.

They were the first North Yorkshire defendants to have "preliminary hearings" instead of repeated pre-committal appearances in the magistrates court under a new law aimed at cutting out court delays.

To show that it was a different kind of hearing, the judge and barristers took off their wigs, but kept on their court robes.

Johnson, 31, of Welburn Close, Tang Hall, York, faces a charge of violence and his case was adjourned.

Minutes earlier, two alleged robbers from Harrogate had had their cases adjourned until April 2.

Both cases had come before magistrates last week. As soon as the lay justices heard the charges were so serious they could only be tried by a judge and jury, they sent the defendants straight to York Crown Court so a judge could set a timetable for prosecutors to prepare evidence and defence lawyers to draw up a defence.

Up to now, magistrates have overseen pre-trial preparation.

Solicitor John Howard, who represents Johnson, gave a cautious welcome to the new law.

"I think we have got to see how it works out in the months to come.

"If justice can be done, I have no objections - and provided the defence have got time to prepare a proper defence and the cases are not pushed through too quickly."

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: "We are always pleased to welcome improvements which speed up the criminal justice system."

Updated: 10:23 Tuesday, January 23, 2001