Where a court official communicated to defence counsel an indication as to the sentence the defendant would receive if he pleaded guilty, giving the impression that the indication came from the judge, but was not one that the judge would repeat in formal circumstances, there was a breach of fundamental principles requiring justice to be done openly and transparently. The defendant could have no legitimate expectation that such an irregular and unorthodox method of conveying an indication was one on which he could rely.

[2006] EWCA Crim 1433