This section applies if—
a defendant is convicted of an offence by a magistrates' court, and
the prosecutor asks the court to commit the defendant to the Crown Court with a view to a confiscation order being considered under section 156.
In such a case the magistrates' court—
must commit the defendant to the Crown Court in respect of the offence, and
may commit him to the Crown Court in respect of any other offence falling within subsection (3).
An offence falls within this subsection if—
the defendant has been convicted of it by the magistrates' court or any other court, and
the magistrates' court has power to deal with him in respect of it.
If a committal is made under this section in respect of an offence or offences—
section 156 applies accordingly, and
the committal operates as a committal of the defendant to be dealt with by the Crown Court in accordance with section 219.
A committal under this section may be in custody or on bail.