Magistrate said he would cut off body parts of youth offenders

Yahoo

25-03-2025

A magistrate who said he would deal with youth offenders by 'cutting off parts of their anatomy' has been handed a formal warning.
Michael Berry claimed the comments made to colleagues in a private room were intended as a joke and did not reflect his actual view.
But an investigation carried out by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office concluded he should have known that his comments were 'inappropriate, offensive and reckless'.
Mr Berry, who works in the South East courts region, was also found to have made a sexist comment later the same day towards a female colleague about how she should not bother her 'pretty little head', the investigation found.
He claimed he 'did not recall' making the comments but said his colleague had 'misinterpreted his sense of humour'.
The investigation concluded Mr Berry, who has a long unblemished conduct record, made the inappropriate comments, which were 'offensive and derogatory'.
'Whilst Mr Berry had not intended any malice, he should have known that his comments were inappropriate, offensive and reckless,' investigators said.
'Mr Berry had not taken any responsibility for his actions and did not understand the seriousness of his comments.'
A spokesman for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: 'Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice and with the Lord Chancellor's agreement, has issued Mr Michael Berry JP with a formal warning for misconduct.'
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