A PTPH is a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing. It is the first hearing in the Crown Court for most cases that have been sent there by the magistrates' court. The defendant is asked to enter a plea, and if the plea is not guilty the court sets a trial date and the directions needed to get the case ready.

When it happens

A PTPH is usually listed a few weeks after the case is sent from the magistrates' court. Defendants held in custody are listed sooner than those on bail. The date is given to you at the magistrates' court or in a letter from the Crown Court, and it will appear on the court's daily list as "PTPH" next to your case reference.

Who has to attend

You must attend in person unless the court has excused you. If you are in custody you will be brought to court or appear by video link from prison. Your solicitor and, usually, a barrister will be there. Witnesses are not needed at a PTPH.

What happens in the hearing

  1. Arraignment. The charges on the indictment are read out and you are asked to plead guilty or not guilty to each one. This is the plea that counts, even if you indicated a plea in the magistrates' court.
  2. If you plead guilty. The judge will either sentence you that day or, more often, adjourn for a pre-sentence report from the probation service. Sentencing then follows a few weeks later. See the guide on sentencing hearings for what to expect.
  3. If you plead not guilty. The judge fixes a trial date, or places the case in a warned list, and sets a timetable. The prosecution and defence tell the court how long the trial will take, which witnesses must attend in person, whether any evidence is disputed, and whether applications will be made about things like bad character or hearsay. Much of this is recorded on a form completed before the hearing.
  4. Bail. The judge will confirm or vary your bail conditions until the next hearing. If you are in custody the judge will consider any bail application.

Credit for a guilty plea

The earlier a guilty plea is entered, the larger the reduction in sentence. A plea indicated at the first hearing in the magistrates' court normally earns the maximum reduction of one third. A guilty plea at the PTPH normally earns a quarter. A plea on the day of trial earns about a tenth. This is one reason the PTPH matters: it is usually the last point at which a substantial reduction is available.

What to bring and how to prepare

  • Any letter from the court and your case reference.
  • Photo ID.
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes early; the hearing may be short but you may wait some time for it to be called.
  • Speak to your solicitor before the day. You should already know what you intend to plead. Do not decide on the morning.
  • If you have no solicitor, tell the court staff when you arrive. The judge can adjourn to allow you to get representation, and legal aid is usually available for Crown Court cases.

How long it takes

The hearing itself is often 10 to 20 minutes, but several PTPHs are listed together and you may be at court for a morning or an afternoon.

What the daily list shows

On the daily list a PTPH appears with the courtroom, the judge, a time or a "not before" time, and your case reference. Times are often approximate; the usher will call your case when the court is ready.

This is general information for England and Wales, not legal advice. Speak to a solicitor about your own case.