A judge has spoken of his despair at how the slashing of court budgets has led to a decline in standards.

Judge Philip Statman spoke out after a lawyer complained that sex offender Jeffrey Pearton was kept waiting a long time while staff could be found to escort a jury to court to deliver verdicts.

Defence barrister Richard Travers said: “That is very hard, not only for the complainants, it is extremely hard on the defendant who is awaiting verdicts.

“That period is then prolonged and people are sitting around waiting.”

Judge Statman replied at Maidstone Crown Court: “I am of the generation who can remember each court having dedicated ushers and dedicated staff.

“Those days are long since gone. They are never going to return, so we have to grin and bear it.

“If you saw the way the court budget has time and again been slashed, it is amazing we can get someone to bring the judge into court.“I am sure in the near future, no doubt, the judge is going to have to go outside to find witnesses and swear them in before we can go any further. That is the state we have reached.”

Pearton, of Oak Road, Gravesend, was warned he was facing a long jail sentence after being convicted of abusing girls in offences dating back more than 30 years.

The 17 offences were committed when the 58-year-old was living in Gravesend and Gillingham.