'Maggots were raining down on to the lobby'

ROTTING seagulls in the roof and maggots “raining down on to the lobby”. These are the grim conditions witnessed inside a North East court, according to a new report.

- By NICOLE GOODWIN

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court has been highlighted in a report by the Law Society uncovering the state of court buildings across England and Wales. One solicitor said the South Shields court was forced to close twice because of rotting dead seagulls and maggots.

They told the report: “It is without hyperbole that I describe this court centre as a disgrace and not fit for purpose. If it wasn’t for the excellent court staff holding everything together, this centre couldn't function.

“To give an example, the court had to close early for two days within the last 12 months or so. This was because dead and rotting seagulls were within the roof insulation.

“The court had to close because maggots were literally raining down on to the lobby.”

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court has had nesting seagulls on its roof and in 2023 some of the seagulls died.

It added that the court was closed briefly in 2023 to resolve the issue and since then new bird netting has been installed.