Brighton's Answer To Judge Samantha Leigh...

Step forward, Judge Shani Barnes! Her latest case?

Rowan Hudson attempted to rob the Costa Coffee in London Road, Brighton, and robbed Burger King on the seafront.

Both incidents happened in front of “terrified” families and young children. Staff at both venues were left shaken and in tears.

The “unstable” 32-year-old was arrested by police and said: “I don’t care, f*** Costa Coffee, f*** Burger King”.

But the former soldier who served in Afghanistan was given a suspended prison sentence because of his struggles with post traumatic stress and the time he has spent in prison waiting for his case to be heard.

At Brighton Crown Court Her Honour Judge Shani Barnes told Hudson: “There will not be another chance.”

Unless he's up before you...

Does This Mean She's Not Been Sacked?

The officer is accused of failing to include vital CCTV footage and mobile phone data and then writing to one of the investigators to ask her not to mention footage even existed.

As a result of her actions a trial into a chemsex drug dealing gang collapsed and another linked case did not go ahead.

And who is she? 

However, a disciplinary panel has ruled she can only be referred to as "Officer A" throughout.

Even though you only need to Google to find it... 

It was ruled that she will not be identified after an order was made to protect her mental health.

This is despite the officer having previously been named in court.

And the name being freely available. And a glance at the image of her showing - perhaps - another reason for the leniency... 

At the time of the collapsed cases Judge Shani Barnes condemned the officer as “cavalier, disinterested and dismissive.”

She said: “I am confronted by an officer in the case admitting in writing that there were discs in a box with surveillance unseen, unscheduled, undisclosed.

“The attitude she expressed in writing reveals a cavalier, dismissive attitude to her duties as a responsible disclosure officer.

“She was disinterested in fulfilling her obligation to ensure that all material was viewed, scheduled and, where appropriate, provided to the defence.”

Another triumph for increasing diversity in the police farce, I'm sure you'll agree! 

Anyone Care For A Little Wager?

A man who was Tasered while carrying a samurai sword faces prison after admitting another offence.

John Gunn had admitted possessing the “katana” Japanese sword at Three Bridges railway station in December.

Hmmm.... Is it me, or does that name ring a bell?

The 27-year-old builder was due to be sentenced at Brighton Crown Court last month by Judge Shani Barnes.

She was angry with Gunn because he missed a meeting with the probation service because he still smelled of alcohol from the night before.

Oh yes! It's coming back to me now.

She agreed to adjourn the sentencing hearing.

But just days later Gunn admitted possessing a lock knife in public near his home in Breydon Walk, Crawley.

Gunn, who has seven convictions for 18 offences, now faces the sentencing hearing tomorrow (May 7).

One wonders why she couldn't see what he was without 'reports'. But some women have trouble spotting a bad 'un, even when it's written all over his face.

Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen. What will he get?

The Feminisation Of Justice,,,

Judge Barnes asked Nicholas Hamblin, defending, if Gunn has relapsed back into alcoholism after failing to turn up to the probation meeting.

She said: “You are asking me to give him yet another chance. He got drunk, and didn’t turn up. Why would it be suitable to adjourn at all?

“He was seen in public with a samurai sword, this is a serious matter.”

So you'll throw the book at him, yes?

Judge Shani Barnes was furious with him, but agreed to delay his sentence until he has met the service.

/facepalm

Where Do They Find These Judges?

...and could they please send them back to wherever it was?

Judge Shani Barnes, sitting at Lewes Crown Court, ruled that despite the severity of his crimes he must not be publicly identified.

The boy had been taken to Spain by his mother when he was aged three, where she led an “unconventional lifestyle” before she brought him back to Brighton and abandoned him.

Judge Barnes said she hoped he could get over his anger at the world while behind bars.

She told the boy: “I understand that life has been very difficult for you.

“You are so young and I am determined you will have another opportunity to take responsibility for your actions.”

When he kills someone - as he almost certainly will - I hope this foolish woman is stripped of her role and sentenced to what he should have got.

Equality Before The Law?

A man who attacked his partner with a hammer has been jailed for 18 months. Mr Lynch lost his temper after an argument with the woman, 39, and hit her over the head four times at his home.

Remind me, the courts take a dim view of this now, don’t they? They don’t just listen to the victim who ‘doesn’t want to make waves’, right?

Sentencing, Judge Shani Barnes told Mr Lynch his victim, who was not seriously wounded, “clearly cared about you deeply”.

She said: “That was clearly evident in court when she simply could not bring herself to say anything that was going to harm you.

“I had to say to her, ‘You are on oath, you have to tell this jury what happened’, and it appeared to break her heart to do so.”

Errrr, hang on! Where’s the outraged feminists beating down the court door? Where’s the CiF columns, declaiming the awful viewpoint of the dinosaur judge?

Well, maybe I’ve changed a few things…

Judge Barnes said she would serve half her sentence and then be released on licence.

*sighs*

Defending, Terry Brookes said Ms Lynch had previously suffered from domestic violence, which may have triggered her reaction. He said she had “expressed her regret at the whole circumstances of the evening”.

He added: “She has learned her lesson and she is not about to allow her state to deteriorate in that way again.”

She’s learned her lesson, all right – to let her barrister use the same old excuses…