What is the difference between a Magistrates Court and a Crown Court?

It is helpful to know here that both of these courts are for criminal purposes. A Magistrates court will typically be used for smaller crimes such as not paying your speeding fine or being caught with drugs, they are also used for the first stages of bigger crimes like murder. Within a Magistrates court, there are usually 3 Magistrates in the "Judges" area, who will usually sentence you whether that be a custodial sentence or a complete discharge. However, where they feel the crime is out of their power, they will hold the relevant pre-trial hearings and send you to Crown Court. A Crown Court has a Judge and in here Solicitors can not represent their client, only barristers. It is here that a Judge will decide your sentencing (if pleading guilty) or you will be subject to a trial with a jury, and these things could not happen at a Magistrates court.