...Why did the magistrates not deal with it then?...
Practically, because it's too high-profile and they would have felt out of their depth.
They can't give that as a reason, but they can say 'our sentencing powers may not be sufficient' because, as I said earlier, it's arguable which category it falls into.
The police caution is not a previous conviction, but it will be put before the sentencing court, so will count against her to a small degree.
As will the fact it was the same victim.
Because it was a trial, the same judge must pass sentence - unless he dies in the meantime.
We don't know what caused the trial to take three days, but if the judge felt the way she conducted her defence was an unreasonable attempt at hook-wriggling, that could also count against her.
But the judge is still more or less bound by the guidelines.
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