Recorder Philip Cattan, 65, reportedly dropped off on the first day of the trial, as the abuse victim gave evidence against 49-year-old John Quigley via video link at Manchester Crown Court.

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Following the alleged incident, the case ‘collapsed’, and will have to be resumed at a later date – at a suspected cost of £10,000 to the taxpayer.

Now the child victim will have to go through the ordeal of giving evidence all over again.

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The jury has been discharged in the trial of R v John Quigley at Manchester Crown Court following an issue that arose in court during the cross examination of the first complainant in the case.

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“The trial will be re-listed as soon as possible. The complainants and other witnesses have been kept informed.”

While it is thought that the victim’s family were aware of the fact the judge had ‘fallen asleep’, the Judicial Conduct Investigations office confirmed that an investigation was underway following a complaint.

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Kama Melly, a criminal barrister specialising in child sex crime, told the Mirror: “It’s devastating for a victim to have a trial delayed so long while an investigation takes place.

“There is no doubt this is a traumatic time for the family and this will only serve to make matters worse for them.”

Mr Quigley denies the 10 the sexual offences against children charges, which include rape.

Are you shocked that something like this could have happened?