The number of sex attack victims caught up in the courts’ backlog is at its highest level in nine years, the Daily Express can reveal. Sex offences account for nearly one in eight of the 62,440 outstanding cases yet to be heard by a judge.

The number of sexual offences listed as “outstanding” has rocketed past 8,000 for the first time, with 2,000 rape cases among them.

It is also the first time the backlog in rape cases has passed 2,000.

A top lawyer last night warned “justice in rape allegations has become a victim itself of penny-pinching”. Many experts fear huge delays are one of the main reasons victims give up on facing their attackers in court.

In total, the backlog of cases is 62,440, heaping fresh pressure on justice chiefs to haul more criminals in front of judges quickly to avoid a greater loss of confidence in the system.

But 8,312 cases are linked to sex offences, up from 3,040 in 2019. The backlog on sex offence cases fell drastically from 2016 when it stood at 6,186.

Ministers have blamed last year’s strike over pay by defence barristers, which added to the pile of unresolved prosecutions.

Ministry of Justice sources insist “our actions are having the impact we want” after last year’s barristers’ strike. The Government is keeping “Nightingale Courts” open to ease the backlog and officials say judges are prioritising serious sexual offences.

But the Criminal Bar Association said victims are suffering from years of underfunding leading to prosecutors and defence barristers quitting the profession.

Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said: “It is pointless investing hundreds of millions in victim support when their cases collapse at the court building as there are not enough barristers left to conduct the trials.

“Reverse the lens and invest in the barristers who are repairing the floor of the criminal justice system; the ceiling having long since collapsed.

“Government must place proper funding of barristers tasked to deliver justice at the forefront of all justice budgets, otherwise political pronouncements of being tough on crime and victims being at the centre of justice are hollow slogans.

“Justice in rape allegations has become a victim itself of penny-pinching with three key losers- the rape complainant, the CPS unable to progress their hard-fought-for case to trial and the government with its rape review commitments derailed before they have got going.”

A Ministry of Justice source said: “Slashing the backlog is a top priority – to deliver the swift justice that victims deserve and the public expect. Now the Bar strike is over our actions are having the impact we want, but we aren’t taking our foot off the pedal.”

A Ministry of Justice Spokesperson said: “The latest figures show outstanding cases in the Crown Court are falling as a direct result of our measures to tackle the backlog and ensure victims get access to the justice they deserve – including lifting the cap on the number of days courts can sit and opening extra courtrooms.

“We are also quadrupling funding for victims’ services and increasing the number of Independent Sexual and Domestic Abuse Advisers to over 1,000 – so more victims get the support they need throughout the entire process”.

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