A woman from Nottingham is facing a devastating nine-year wait for her ex-partner's trial for grievous bodily harm, during which her mother – a crucial witness – has died, exposing what she calls an 'unacceptable' and 'broken' justice system.
A Decade in Limbo for Justice
Becky Sheeran, 37, first reported allegations against her ex-partner to police in 2019. Following an investigation, restaurateur David Perkins, 46, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm against her at a five-star London hotel. However, instead of finding relief, Ms Sheeran has been trapped in a cycle of delays that has now pushed her potential trial date to 2028.
The business owner had initially been given a court date for September 2025, already representing a six-year wait. This was then postponed to December 2025. In a crushing blow last month, she, her family, and the investigating officer travelled to Birmingham for a 'float trial' only to be told there was no courtroom available. The case has now been rescheduled for March 2028.
Lost Evidence and Crumbling Support
The most painful consequence of the delay is the death of Ms Sheeran's mother, Gill. As a key witness, her evidence has been lost forever, severely undermining the case. Compounding this loss, the police officer in charge of the investigation is due to retire in October, stripping Ms Sheeran of another vital pillar of support.
She described the scene at court as 'chaos', with six floated trials, including rape cases, competing for space. 'You're at the bottom of the pile,' she was told. The experience left her so deflated she considered withdrawing from the case entirely. 'I completely lost all my fight,' she told the Daily Mail.
'The System is Broken': A Warning to Others
Ms Sheeran speaks candidly about the severe impact on her mental health, warning that such delays could stop victims reporting crimes or even lead to suicide. 'Everybody in the UK has a right to a fair trial within a reasonable time. Nine years is not a reasonable time,' she stated.
She says she received no witness care support after the aborted court date and fears she would have given up without her family. Her case highlights a systemic crisis: there are nearly 80,000 criminal cases awaiting trial, a figure predicted to hit 100,000 by 2028. Victims charged today may not see a courtroom until 2030.
In response, the government has pledged reforms, including proposals to restrict jury trials to the most serious cases to speed up the process. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson acknowledged victims are 'waiting too long for justice'. The Crown Prosecution Service said it is working to deliver 'swifter justice' and has employed dedicated Victim Liaison Officers.
Ms Sheeran has written to her MP demanding urgent action. 'If we don't speak up, particularly as women, we will never see change,' she said, determined that others should not endure the same decade of anguish.
