Judge and dog collar’d for attack on student

There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth from Judge Beatrice Bolton as she was found guilty of ownership of a dangerous dog and slapped with a fine last week.

As reported on Dream Dogs, her German Shepherd attacked student, and next door neighbour, Frederick Becker, 20, as he sunbathed in his back yard in Rothbury, Northumberland.

Three year old Bundenbury Francer, AKA Georgie, set about the hapless student and sank his teeth into his leg, ripping his trousers and wounding him.

As the guilty verdict, along with a £2,500 fine, was delivered in Carlisle Magistrates Court, Judge Bolton, 57, embarked on a rant and stormed out of the courtroom, declaring the decision “a ***king travesty”.

The judge, who appears in Who’s Who and reportedly earns £140,000 per year, could be heard yelling outside of the courtroom. After attempts to calm her by her solicitor and family in a court side room, she shouted:

“Do you want a statement? I’ll give you a statement. I have no faith in the justice system whatsoever.”

“I will never sit in a court of law again. How can he (the magistrate) say that? How can he bloody say that?”

Bolton was ordered to apologise for her outburst, and was also chastised for chewing gum in court.

As well as a fine, she was also ordered to pay £275 to Becker, prosecution costs of £930 and a victim surcharge of £15. When she protested that she couldn’t afford to pay it, magistrates agreed to her paying half by May 2011 and the remainder six months later. It’s not known if the judge had any dog insurance to protect her from such costs.

When questioned about her tirade, Bolton commented:

“I have been under considerable stress and anxiety.”

“I have suffered panic attacks for several months and anything I did say I’m afraid was as a result of the specific position emotionally that I now find myself in.”

“Everyone has their point at which they cannot control themselves.”

The Judicial Communications Office confirmed that Judge Bolton would be dealt with by the Office for Judicial Complaints.

Mark James