A judge has called for the Law Society to investigate the conduct of a solicitors' firm after he had to halt the Askham Grange Prison trial on its second day.

It was the second time the trial has been delayed because defence lawyers Spilsbury and Co needed more time to make inquiries on behalf of defendant Christine Ferguson, 32, of Gladstone Street, Mountain Ash, Mid Glamorgan, who was arrested in June 1998.

She denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by making a false allegation of rape against a prison officer when she was an inmate at Askham Grange prison.

Judge Jonathan Crabtree told the jury at Doncaster Crown Court "Things really have come to a grinding halt."

He told the jury that the defence needed time to ask medical experts about Ferguson's medical and personal files from her time in prison. And the people who could help the trial were not immediately available.

"It is not possible to conduct this trial fairly so I have to discharge you from having to give a verdict. The whole case will be put off for another few months. I am left with no alternative but to discharge you from giving a verdict," he said.

The primary people to suffer by the delay were the officer and his family.

"It is the second time the case has effectively had to be adjourned, on the face of it because inquiries that should have been made a long time ago were not made at the proper time," said the judge.

"As to the people responsible, the view I currently hold is that that should be investigated by the Law Society rather than the trial judge."

He made clear he was not implying any criticism of Ferguson.

He ordered a transcript of discussions held in private between himself and prosecution and defence barristers before the jury was sworn in on Wednesday to be sent to the Law Society, the solicitors' professional body which can hold disciplinary hearings into possible misconduct by members.

No member of the firm was present in court, as it had employed an agent on its behalf. Ferguson was also represented in court by a Queen's Counsel and a junior counsel. The judge made no criticism of them and they can only act on instructions from solicitors.

The trial is now expected to start again later this year.

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