Lord Janner fails to attend court to face abuse charges

Lord Janner has failed to attend a preliminary hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court to face 22 counts of child abuse, despite a High Court ruling that he should.

Paul Ozin QC, his lawyer, told the court he is applying for the peer to appear via video link from his home.

Greville Janner has been charged with offences ranging from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Lawyers acting for Janner, a former Labour peer and MP, had appealed to the High Court to permit him not to attend the court as, they argued, he is suffering from dementia and forcing him to appear in person was a violation of his human rights.

But the last-minute legal bid was thrown out yesterday.

Today's hearing was due to be very brief, serving as an administrative tool to set a date for the case to move to the Crown Court.

Mr Ozin told the court the available options include a live video link from Janner's home or a link from within the court building - and added that arrangements have been made for attendance in person should the application fail.

Prosecutor Louise Oakley objected, saying an appearance via video link was "not an option".

Deputy District Judge Emma Arbuthnot adjourned the case for half an hour to allow the defence team to see if moving the case to Wood Green Crown Court - which is closer to his home - is a viable option.

Read: Lord Janner: The story so far