Ipswich: Judge Attacked In Court

3 June 2013, 12:27 | Updated: 3 June 2013, 17:55

A man will be held in custody overnight after an alleged attack on a judge as he sat in court.

Suffolk Police were called to Ipswich Crown Court at about 11.30am following reports of an attack on Judge John Devaux by a man sitting in the public gallery of court number two.

Witnesses said the judge's wig was knocked from his head during the tussle.

Judge Devaux returned to court moments later and said "I think we're all unharmed,'' before he continued hearing cases.

Paul Graham appeared in court this afternoon and officials were told he had been arrested on suspicion of assault and contempt of court. He was remanded in custody to appear before a different judge tomorrow morning.

The incident happened as Judge Devaux sentenced Graham's brother Philip, 30, of Quendon Place, Haverhill, to 30 months in prison for causing death by dangerous driving.

Philip Graham was convicted after a trial earlier this year of killing father-of-two Derek Foster, 37, when his car hit the victim's motorcycle on the B1054 in July last year.

A spokesman for Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service said: "There was an incident involving a member of the public and a member of the judiciary at Ipswich Crown Court. This is now a police matter.''