The Largest Case C Ever Did!
I went to the retirement party in Ipswich, for a judge who was one of C’s best friends, in Ipswich tonight.
It was good to meet old friends and have a drink and some nibbles.
I was also introduced to someone, who as one of the Court Clerks, played a part in the largest case C ever did.
She would tell this story with gusto and lots of actions. I’m sure many who heard it, didn’t believe all of the tale.
She always called the case, the Thorpeness Affray and although she didn’t do crime in the later part of her career, she was persuaded to defend someone in this case, which took place at Ipswich Crown Court.
The size was enormous, in that there a hundred and eight defendants, which my informant said they split into two separate trials. I think once, she said the clerks were scraping the barrel, which is why she got roped in.
It became obvious that the dock wasn’t big enough, so it was decided that each defendant should have a number and these would be placed above their seat. Each of the barristers would carry a flag identifying their clients.
Concerns were raised, as this numbering might not be conducive to a fair trial.
The judge was the well-respected and mildy-eccentric Bertie Richards. He thought, that if the defendants were to be numbered, so should he as the judge. So a number one was placed above where he sat.
At this point in the story, C would get all agitated and would make an action of holding up her flag and saying something like “Your Honour! I represent number 4!” Once the substitute flag in the telling, was a numbered wooden spoon in the restaurant of the pub, much to the delight of everyone.
Whatever happened to her client, I can’t remember. But tonight, I was told that many of the defendants, were part of a gang called the Bramfield Budgies. Bramfield is a village in Suffolk on the A12.
I think it is true to say that in the 1970s and 1980s, the conduct of justice was sometimes a little out of the ordinary.
The Anonymous Widower 
Numbered Justice from Old Bailey . . . is Normal for Aussies [“POMMIES”, our fore fathers & mothers . . . “P.O.M.E.” with a number on their backs] “P.O.M.E.” : Prisoner of Mother England. The Aussies turned out alright, numbered Justice started back in UK in the 1770s . . . the only question with the above case, should be the charge. Not like in the 1770s . . . Transportation to the Antipodes, for stealing a piece of bread or the like.
Comment by Steam Lover | May 4, 2013 |
do you by any chance have any information on The Bramfield Budgies?? When my husband and I were stationed in England in the 70’s, we rode with a group of bikers called the Budgies..Was wondering what happened..thank you..
Comment by Terri Hollern | September 15, 2014 |
Bramfield is a village near Southwold, just off the A12.
Comment by AnonW | September 15, 2014 |
I was at the trial. The affray was basically a scuffle with Police officers & damage to a pub a car & a telephone kiosk. The 6 main offenders admitted their part & the rest were basically present but prepared to confront the skinheads in the village hall who were celebrating the deaths of 2 young bikers. The sentences were completely disproportionate to the offences committed. As I understand, judge B Richards was particularly severe because he was a resident of Thorpeness. None of the defendants who received custodial sentences were advised to appeal – which attests to your comments on the quality of the representation.The same judge was of course famous for finding a rapist guilty and then fining him on the basis that the victim bore a proportion of guilt because she had been hitch-hiking. I’m surprised that nothing was ever written about this episode, the events were quite extraordinary.
Comment by Henners | January 5, 2018 |
I was not a lawyer, but I remember eating in an Indian restaurant in Woodbridge, where the locals had objected strongly to its opening.
Judge Richards was also dining, when a policeman came in to complain about a car parked in the road outside on a single yellow line, after a complaint from a resident.
The car owner got up to move the car, but Judge Richards intervened and told him to sit down and finish his meal. He then sent the policeman away with a flea in his ear.
Comment by AnonW | January 5, 2018 |
So it would appear that Richards’ judgement was indeed personally driven! Sad to see that the folk of Woodbridge still hadn’t learned the notion of Christian welcome at the time of the restaurant’s opening. I remember the Chinese takeaway there in 1979, the abuse they had to put up with…but there was a fantastic fishmonger who we knew from my childhood in London who kind of added some kind of balance to the sanity!
Comment by Henners | January 5, 2018