England: Defendant who repeatedly punched judge in the head jailed for three years

His Honour Judge Patrick Perusko was attacked last November by a 41-year-old man who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Mr Justice Goss, sentencing, said the attack was like those against doctors in hospitals. The defendant was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court yesterday for the assault – as well as the verbal abuse of Recorder Dharmesh Patel.

The court heard that the businessman had been in and out of court over disputes with the mother of his children.

Judge Perusko was forced to leave the courtroom in Milton Keynes County Court a number of times at the hearing last year, amid verbal abuse.

Tessa Donovan, prosecuting, explained that when the judge returned for a third time, and decided again to leave, the defendant “picked up a laptop on the desk as well as an electric radiator”.

“The defendant pursued His Honour and caught up with him as he moved past District Judge Nutley [in the court offices] The defendant pushed the judge to the corner of his room.

“He pinned him down. He punched him a number of times to the head.”

The defendant shouted “I know I’m going to prison for a long time, but I don’t care you deserve it,” as he beat the judge. The man’s partner and security were able to persuade him to stop and he was later arrested.

Ms Donovan added: “His Honour was working not just in the public service but in an important judicial role. This is a position that ought to be considered with some deference.”

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, with help from the Judicial Office, has since conducted a serious incident learning review at Milton Keynes Family Court.

A spokesman said: “This event was shocking and we have remained in contact with the judge throughout the internal investigation and the ongoing court case.

“While incidents like this are rare, we take the safety of our judges and court staff very seriously. An investigation into the incident has been completed and all the recommendations are being implemented.”

One witness said: “If that had been in a Crown Court it never would have happened, it’s secure.

“In family courts you can still have violent people in highly charged contested hearings and yet they can walk into a room and punch a judge and there is nobody to stop them. It’s lucky Judge Perusko was only punched.”