Just one among the usual number of recovering dunks, speeding motorists and captured shoplifters. There he stood, still with his red cloak and white trimmed hood, head bowed in shame as the clerk stood in that hushed but packed Magistrates Court, to read the charges in ringing tones.

"That you , Mr S Claus, of no fixed abode, did knowingly commit serial burglary on a large number of homes within the Essex area on the night of December 24th and the early morning of December 25th and that following which were found in charge of a vehicle powered by a number of reindeer in a condition that failed the breathalyser test, and that further more, you have been reported by the Essex Social Services department to this court for actions that could pervert the minds of young Children."

"You are also charged that you did admit to cruelty towards your reindeer in that you had force feed them large amounts of mince pies."

Then turning to the judge, he continued, "Another charge of committing a nuisance to the Royal Mail by persuading large numbers of children to post letters to a North Pole address has been withdrawn on account on the large amount of finance it has brought the Royal Mail sir" he concluded," turning Back to the man in the dock to ask, "how do you plead."

"Not Guilty" came the reply to a ripple of laughter from those assembled in the public gallery. At this The Chief Magistrate cried, "I will have silence in this courtroom," before nodding to prosecutor Mr Scrooge to open his case.

"You claim to be Father Christmas, yet you give your name as Santa Claus, how do you account for this" "I am one and the same," said the man in the dock, "some people even know me as St Nicholas" he smiled. "Do they now Mr Claus," said Mr Scrooge, "And you also claim to live at the North Pole do you" he said with a smirk , "I do," said Santa from the dock, "if fact it's also the home of my Gnomes ."

"Your what ?" cried Scrooge over the gale of laughter in the courtroom. "oh yes we spend all year making toys and answering letters from Children world-wide, then on Christmas night we deliver them." He concluded.

"But pray tell us good sir," cried a sarcastic Scrooge, "how can you deliver all these alleged toys all over the world when you only have at the most, six hours, It can't be done can it." He asked. "oh that's dead easy, laughed Santa, "we can stop time, so that that whilst to a waiting child their presents appear overnight, to the Gnomes, reindeer and myself a year has passed."

At this Scrooge turned again to the Magistrate, and spreading his arms, said, This man is clearly not in procession of his right mind, and I ask that you commit him for reports.

Now the magistrate, being an otherwise fair and kindly man, asked if there was anyone in the court who could intercede on behalf of Santa Claus. "I will" came a small voice from the back of the court," all heads turned as stepping forward came a small girl no more then ten years old.

"And what have you to say my dear," asked the magistrate kindly. "Well you see," said the little girl clutching her doll, "you have to believe in him, then in the week before Christmas eve, you have to post him a letter listing all you want him to bring that night, and if you have very very good, and you leave out a couple of mince pies and some of daddies Brandy, you'll find your presents on Christmas Morning."

"And you believe all this rubbish." Shouted a by now red faced Scrooge. "Oh yes," said the girl, "because if you don't believe in Santa Claus, then he'll never come and you wont see him." Oh in that case, said Scrooge, turning to the red cloaked man in the dock, "you are a figment of my imagination, so you don't exist "

With a gentle smile and a wave of his hand, Santa Claus slowly gazed around the courtroom, then in a puff of white smoke, vanished. "See he's gone," said Scrooge turning back to the little girl.

"maybe to you he has," said the little girl, wise beyond her years, "but to me, he's still here. Only you can't see him because you don't believe in Santa anymore."

Well Mr Scrooge, said the magistrate, "your now wasting the courts time, For if we have no defendant we can't charge him can we.. case dismissed."

But as the court emptied, Scrooge gathering up his papers, could swear he could hear someone laughing, as seated on his sledge Santa turned his reindeer toward the North Pole and home.

ENDS