Where defendants did not have the choice to plead guilty or not guilty because their legal representation had withdrawn and could only act if they pleaded guilty, and the defendants were illiterate which made it virtually impossible for them to represent themselves, and time was not given for them to seek more legal advice, then the guilty pleas were treated as a nullity.

CA (Crim Div) (Henry LJ, Butterfield J, Judge Grigson)

30/03/1999