Where it is required for the purposes of this Act to prove ¾

(a) that a defendant did not appear before a particular court, at a particular place, on a particular day, at a particular time or during a particular period; or

(b) the day, time or period when or during which a defendant did appear before a particular court at a particular place,

a certificate as to any such matter, purporting to be signed by a judicial officer or clerk or registrar of the court before which the defendant was required to appear, shall be evidence of the matter so certified.