'Despicable, sordid, silly and idiotic': The best tongue-lashings handed out by West Midlands judges this year
British judges are renowned across the world for their devastating command of the English language when sending criminals down - here are our region's best tongue-lashings of the year.
No longer required to wear a black cap, which was worn when sentencing a poor soul to death, or inflict corporal punishment on criminals, instead our judges now give defendants rollicking tongue-lashings.
Unable or unwilling to speak through the media (the Express & Star has asked and was refused, politely), the judges instead give their thoughts on what they see before them through remarks to defendants.
Our judges' sentencing remarks have earned our acid-tongued, horse-hair wig-wearing pillars of the establishment fans across the world.
American comedian James Pietragallo, who often repeats UK judges' comments in his Small Town Murder and Crime In Sports podcasts, said: "British judges do not just sentence their criminals - they tell them why they are awful people in such a brilliant way, their turn of phrase is like nothing we have in America."
No one is too powerful to escape their wrath or polite suggestions to get their lives together. As well as explaining why they have given the sentence they have, they highlight societal trends which they have spotted. New crimes, the return of old crimes, new types of defendants, witnesses and evidence have all been brought to the public's attention by judges. 'Joyriding', 'revenge porn' and 'money mules' all entered the lexicon due to judges' remarks.
Their waspish comments can fly round the world, giving cases an international profile: two years ago Judge Rhona Campbell, in a lilting Scottish accent, delivered a withering takedown of a Wolves fan who racially abused former player Rio Ferdinand.
Jamie Arnold was hit with an iron fist in a velvet verbal glove; her comments were reported in outlets in America, Nigeria, Australia and Europe reported the remarks.
She said: "You have brought shame on your city and shame on your club. Wolverhampton Wanderers do not want a racist on their terraces, they do not want you as a fan and this city does not tolerate racist behaviour in its midst.
"It was a day of real excitement as home fans were allowed back into Premiership football games for the first time, socially distanced after the arrival of the Covid pandemic. It was a day to be joyful. You were a parasite to proper Wolverhampton fans on that day."
Similar to the Royal Family, as well as attending the same schools, colleges, universities and country clubs, judges will not express their opinions about politics and current affairs so there has been no horse-hair-drier treatment of the Government's plan to axe trial by juries in life-ruining crimes.
However, judging by legal opinions at the top of the profession it is a fair guess to say they think it is a case of 'throwing the baby out with the bath water' as former lawyer David Lammy uses a sledgehammer to crack the nut of a huge case backlog.
In any case, as the perfect hosts, judges are unfailingly polite to juries throughout proceedings and after hearing their verdicts. They always express their gratitude to those 12 peers of the defendant undertaking their public service, without whom, the Black Country's top judge Michael Chambers KC regularly reminds everyone, the court system would grind to a halt. If the case has been harrowing or months long the judge will often tell jurors they will not be eligible for jury service for several years.
Judges always extend an invitation to the conclusion of a case, the sentencing. However, after having their fill of legal-ese, sitting still and the stopping and starting of courtroom life, the majority do not return.
One of the most eagerly anticipated sentencing hearings of 2025 was for Albrighton actor and sexual deviant Alexander Westwood getting his just desserts. The majority of the jury who sat through nine weeks of hearing disgusting details of more than 25 stomach-turning sexual offences and found him guilty returned for the sentencing.
Judge Neil Chawla KC had been criticised for granting Westwood bail after the verdict, allowing him to spend Christmas at home before being told his fate in February. However, a week before the sentencing Westwood was found in a hotel room with a young woman, breaking a raft of bail conditions.
Judge Chawla systematically tore into 'sordid' Westwood's character outlining why the 'deviant' deserved 15 and a half years behind bars.
He said: "Throughout your trial your nonchalant attitude bordered on arrogance. I thought long and hard about bail but as an act of mercy for your parents, you were expected to stay at your home address - yet last week you were found in a hotel.
"One of your victims said she felt dehumanised. This is the horrifying, lasting effect on the victims of what you did - your sordid sexual criminality.
"I must sentence you for a multitude of sexual offending over a decade of your life. You have shown no remorse and remain a danger to the public."
In a departure from courtroom convention, which requires solemnity at all times, a spontaneous round of applause broke out when Judge Chawla sent Westwood down.
Defendants who avoid a prison sentence are often the subject of severe ticking-offs from judges who have saved them from a diet of porridge.
