A DEFENCE lawyer expressed outrage when it was suggested her client pay £620 court costs.

Judith Kenney demanded a breakdown of costs from the Crown Prosecution Service after it suggested a one-hour trial had cost £620.

Her client Piotr Kij, of Port Street, Evesham, had been found guilty in absence of being drunk and disorderly and was appearing at Worcester Magistrates Court to be sentenced.

Liam Finch, prosecuting, told the court that Kij had been found sitting on a bench outside the One Stop shop on the high street in Evesham on Sunday, December 5.

He was approached by officers, who said he was clearly drunk and slurring his words.

Kij, aged 35, became abusive and was charged with being drunk and disorderly – which he later denied but was found guilty.

Mr Finch said: “The costs for running the trial are £620 and that is the application for costs we would make.”

However, Ms Kenney said: “How can that be a realistic estimate for costs? I would like to see a breakdown of how costs are incurred.

“£600 is absolutely ludicrous. I would invite the magistrates to consider something more realistic.

“This is the first time I have had such an amount for such a proof in absence. It is just simply a case of reading out statements.”

The court clerk then pointed out two police officers had been called to attend the trial, but Ms Kenney was still furious.

She said: “In which case there should still be a scale of proportion.”

Magistrates ordered Kij to pay just £150 costs, as well as a £150 trial and a £15 victim surcharge. This was added to £579.99 that Kij owed the court.