(1) If a defendant is committed to the Crown Court under section 218 in respect of an offence or offences, this section applies (whether or not the court proceeds under section 156).
(2) The Crown Court -
(a) must inquire into the circumstances of the case, and
(b) may deal with the defendant in any way in which the magistrates' court could deal with him if it had just convicted him of the offence.