The virtual court system in use at North Kent Police station

A pioneering use of virtual court technology in Kent is a UK first, it's been claimed.

Kent Police and The Kent Criminal Justice Board say they have broken new ground this week by being the first partnership in the country to successfully run a crown court trial using Live Link virtual court technology.

It came as 22-year-old Sam Holmes and 23-year-old David Leadbeater were jailed for six years after admitting conspiracy to commit 43 burglaries and attempted burglaries across Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and London, where 35 vehicles were stolen.

Police from as far as Lewisham, Essex, Folkestone and Canterbury appeared via the Live Link system to give their evidence at Maidstone Crown Court.

This saved 40 hours of their time, which would have been used in travel and waiting at court to be heard.

It also saved them journeys of 290 miles to and from court.

Maidstone Crown Court, where the virtual case was heard

In total the evidence given by the five officers lasted just 48 minutes and they were all able to get back to their regular duties straight after being seen.

This is the first time that the Live Link technology has been used in Crown Court in the UK on this scale.

Live Links is a system that allows people to give evidence from a police station, rather than attend court.

Inspector Bob Platt, said after the case: "This is an exciting development which has huge potential to save a great deal of time and money whilst ensuring that justice is served.

"Most importantly giving evidence in this way allows officers to get straight back onto the beat and serve the community.

"We have been using this technology in Kent Magistrates Court since 2009 and have expanded the system so defendants can appear from police stations and victims can give evidence from a less intimidating environment.

"Using the virtual court network in crown court is a natural progression."