Caution - details of previous convictions are now allowed in certain cases:-

The evidence must be admissible through one or more of the seven gateways set out in section 101 Criminal Justice Act 2003:

(a) all parties to the proceedings agree to the evidence being admissible;
(b) the evidence is adduced by the defendant himself or is given in answer to a question asked by him in cross examination and intended to elicit it;
(c) it is important explanatory evidence;
(d) it is relevant to an important matter in issue between the defendant and the prosecution, which includes:

• whether the defendant has a propensity to commit offences of the kind with which he is charged, except where such propensity makes it no more likely that he is guilty of the offence(section 103(1)(a) Criminal Justice Act 2003);
• whether the defendant has a propensity to be untruthful, except where it is not suggested that the defendant's case is untruthful in any respect (section 103(1)(b) Criminal Justice Act 2003);

(e) it has substantial probative value in relation to an important matter in issue between the defendant and a co-defendant;
(f) it  is evidence to correct a false impression given by the defendant; or
(g) the defendant has made an attack on another person's character.