A BURGLARY charge dating back to August 1998 was discharged by Blackburn magistrates after the prosecution admitted that committal papers were not ready and accepted that they should be.
Neil Standage, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the matter against Victoria Ann Cook, 36, of Pilmuir Road, Blackburn, had last been before the court on December 7.
At that time an adjournment had been asked for so the police could establish DNA evidence on a cigarette end found at the scene of a burglary.
"When inquiries were made by my colleague as to the progress being made the police informed us that they had not sent the items to the forensic laboratory," said Mr Standage.
"Committal papers are not ready and I have to concede that they ought to be."
Kevin Preston, defending, said: "Since December 7, when the matter was last before the court, the police have done nothing and things are becoming farcical."
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