The lawyer who led the inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly faced a new mystery on Friday.

James Dingemans QC, the main barrister at the Hutton Inquiry, was asked to decide who the real Paul Bonner was.

Paul Terrence Bonner was due to appear to be sentenced for possessing crack cocaine.

Bonner, whose address was given as Montpelier Road, Brighton, was supposed to have been brought from Lewes prison where he was believed to have been remanded in custody.

But it was Paul James Bonner, from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, who appeared in the dock.

He was also at Lewes prison serving a two-and-a-half year sentence for supplying a Class A drug after pleading guilty in December.

The hearing was thrown into confusion when staff at Hove Crown Court realised there had been a mix-up and they might have the wrong prisoner.

Most of the papers relating to the case were for Paul James Bonner but a list of previous convictions were for his namesake, in his 30s.

Mr Dingemans, a Recorder in Sussex, discovered a string of coincidences when he tried to unravel the mystery.

A bemused Paul James Bonner was brought up from the cells and asked how old he was.

After he confirmed he is 28, he was asked where he lived before he was jailed. He said: "Wallingford, Oxfordshire."

He said he had been arrested there for supplying drugs in Brighton in December, 2002.

Mr Dingemans asked him: "Have you ever lived in Montpelier Road, Brighton?"

Bonner said: "Yes, two years ago, at the time I was arrested for drugs offences I was jailed for on December 19."

Mr Dingemans explained the reason he had questioned him was because the court suspected they had the wrong man in the dock.

He added: "It would be extremely unfair if I was to sentence you today on a possession charge which is nothing to do with you."

Bonner then said: "I know there was another Paul Bonner at Lewes prison at the same time as me.

"It is not the first time this has happened. I was taken to court by mistake instead of him when he was due to appear before."

Mr Dingemans temporarily adjourned the hearing for further checks to be made to confirm what Bonner had told him was correct.

After the checks were made he was brought into court to be told Mr Dingemans was satisfied he was not Paul Terrence Bonner, whose whereabouts are unknown.

Mr Dingemans said: "I'm sorry you have been brought here unnecessarily."

Bonner smiled at the court as he was returned to the cells to continue serving his sentence.