A leading Telford magistrate and former Oakengates mayor has quit the bench after being reported for posting details of cases he dealt with on the Twitter social networking site.
Professor Steve Molyneux, an expert in the uses of information technology and a magistrate for 16 years, told fellow Twitterers on one occasion how he sat “in the Gods passing sentence on the criminal fraternity”.
Earlier the same day he wrote: “Just keeping up whilst I’m court deciding on sentence. Sad or what?”
Some of Prof Molyneux’s comments
- Awaiting court listing. Looks like I am hearing remand cases today. Hopefully interesting cases.
- What a nightmare drive home last night. Five hours of torture. Sentencing in Ludlow all day today. A lot of motoring and shoplifting offences!
- Home at last. What a day! Ludlow courthouse is ancient. We sit in the Gods passing sentence on the criminal fraternity.
- Just keeping up whilst I’m court deciding on sentence. Sad or what.
- Finished hearing bail. Three refused for planning robbery of £480,000 from TSB in Dawley, Telford.
- First defendant. Conspiracy to rob TSB of £500,000. Good start – wrong previous convictions presented.
- Just about to hear application from three robbers from Manchester as to whether to remand or not.
- Called into court today to deal with those arrested last night and held in custody. I guess they will be mostly drunks but you never know.
- I have resigned after 16 years as a Magistrate due to my policy of wanting to report outcome of cases to the public on Twitter.
- All I mentioned what the same that was said in Open court. A fellow magistrate thought it was unethical and complained.
The posting which landed him in hot water, however, and led to his resignation as a magistrate concerned a bail application he dealt with for three men accused of robbing Lloyds TSB in Dawley.
Prof Molyneux, who lives in Oakengates and signs himself Profontheprowl on the Twitter site, wrote: “First defendant. Conspiracy to rob TSB of £500,000. Good start – wrong previous convictions presented.”
He added later: “Finished hearing bail. Three refused for planning robbery of £480,000 from TSB in Dawley.” A fellow magistrate discovered the 54-year-old’s Twitterings and complained.
The matter was passed to Glyn Parry, chairman of the Telford bench.
Prof Molyneux then went on a lecture tour of the United States, but returned to find a letter informing him that the matter had been passed to the Shropshire Justices Advisory Committee.
He handed in his resignation after learning how far things had gone. He said: “I did nothing wrong, I did nothing illegal. I didn’t mention any names or write about anything in the retiring room. All I wrote was in the public domain already.”
Prof Molyneux said his mention of “the Gods” was a reference to the architecture of Ludlow court where the magistrates sit very high up, and stressed no “Tweeting” was done in court.
In a message to Shropshire Star readers he said: “I believe that everyone overreacted – time for you to decide on what I did was wrong or not.”
Neither Mr Parry nor anyone from the Shropshire Justices Advisory Committee was available to comment today.
By Simon Hardy
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36 Comments
Provided he doesn’t provide info that could identify the defendant I can’t see any problems,it’s no more than they do by carving their names in the dock anyway
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…he has done no more than anyone else ‘twittering’ about their work. He has not identified anyone by name, or their charges. He really has done nothing wrong, and should stay in the post on the bench.
Besides, he is a professor of technology, it makes sense that he ‘twitters’ and posts his routine. It goes with being a world leader of technology!!!
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I bet this increases the number of his followers on Twitter :) If the above is an example of what he twittered, then I can see no problem.
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For those who wish to know, here are the Tweets I sent on Saturday 7th Feb:
8:15 Called into Court today to deal with those arrested last night and held in custody. I guess they will be mostly drunks but you never know.
9:49 Just about to hear application from 3 robbers from Manchester as to whether to remand or not.
10:19 1st defendant. Conspiracy to rob TSB of £500,000.
12:21 Finished hearing bail. 3 refused for planning robbery of £480,000 from TSB in Dawley, Telford.
The reference to “The Gods” was a reference to the Architecture of Ludlow Court where unlike modern courts Magistrates sit VERY high up.
NO tweeting was done in court but in the break and as you will all see from the tweets, nothing was said that did not happen in open court.
I hoped that by Tweeting people would see that Justice was being done and demonstrating the role of the Magistrate.
I believe that everyone overreacted.
Time for you to decide on what I did was wrong or not.
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Sounds like a knee-jerk reaction by the establishment to me. All the Tweets contained was freely available in the Public Domain, and just the kind of thing that makes Twitter what it is…
The Old Guard overreacting because it doesn’t understand something new “what! Change ! Modernisation! Can’t have that, been done this way for years…”’ etc etc
Behind you all the Way Steve, hope it all works out for you.
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Ah I can see what the problem is here,magistrates have up until now been in time warp.
Perhaps if he had a Sqn Ldrs moustache,big checked suit and an old school tie he’d have been quids in,or a purple rinse,tweed two piece and armed with the latest victoria plum jam recipe if he prefers in future to be called Stephanie!
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Get back on the bench, I hear your a top chap! you done noting wrong…
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Very undignified if you ask me, once the rot starts with the dignity and decorum of the court being lowered by the Magistrates themselves then we are on a slippery slope.
We have not yet reached the same “joke” as the American Courts but if this attitude catches on, we soon could be. No sympathy at all with the man – shows very poor judgement.
And, like Pitkin, those who think the JPs all come from the “old school tie” lot and can be steryotyped as above in 6 – they most certainly do not. A close friend is one and she is the wife of a a Railway worker.
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He breached confidentiality and trivialised his job. He was right to resign.
Brunel
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i no steve and he is loverly person he hasnt done anythink wrong at all i carnt see why his personal twitter is broadcasted he never mentioned names and all that was said was what everyone knows anyway the worlds going mad you wont be able to do anythink soon
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Well now – THIS IS poetic justice.
First we get Mike hughes nobbled by “Utube” for posting a video of his driving, (see “road ban for utube man” thread) and NOW:
A Magistrate falling foul of “twittering”.
PERHAPS NOW people will begin to realise just how bad our society is becoming, and just how easily ANY little piece of information placed “in the public” domain can be used against you.
Maybe Steve Molyneux and Mike Hughes should get together and discuss how modern technology, and the “dubious use of it” has befallen both of them.
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Couldn’t he have just been asked to stop doing it? Surely nothing to resign about. People like him who are aware of the latest trends, fads and barmy ideas – you decide which one of these twittering is – are exactly the sort of person we need on the bench to deal with people.
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Steve Molyneux said:” I hoped that by Tweeting people would see that Justice was being done and demonstrating the role of the Magistrate.”
Well that’s just what I thought at first.
I realised what the ‘in the Gods’ reference was, but can see how some people could make the wrong inference. Likewise the use of ‘criminal fraternity’ may have been unwise.
Perhaps a poorly judged medium to educate the public, after all I would not like to read my gynaecologist saying things in the same manner, like “10:47 just looked up patients tubes, what a state!”, especially if I had had the 10:30 appointment!
I don’t think he should have resigned, if he believed he was right, he should have made his case if he believed in it – that was a matter for his concience.
I feel he resigned as he seems pretty disillusioned and bored with being a magistrate from his twitters.
I’m afraid the inference of his resignation is practically an admission of guilt – a principle I am sure he is all too aware of.
By the way, who is sad enough to want to read a blow for blow account of his day? If anyone is that bored, I am decorating at the moment so they can come and watch my paint dry.
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Norman, you said:”Perhaps if he had ……. an old school tie…”
From the picture it looks like he is wearing one?
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As I’ve said on the newer story where there is a much longer comment if you feel the need to read it I am certainly in the camp that you have done wrong. Not because you attempted to provide a level of transparency to court proceedings that is both of interest to the local community but because you decided to resign instead of fighting what could have been a very important step towards a more open transparent court.
If you, a magistrate of 16 years know you are right and don’t stand up for progress then how are we supposed to progress? Lord knows public protest is dead, one look at the idiots who decided to converge on London the other week proves that as people are alienated by the lunatics and illogical idiots who provide the majority at such proceedings.
It is people like you who are left to make the biggest changes, people who may not necessarily have the power to directly change things but have the respect and record to prove your opinion should be heard! Even in fairly liberal towns like Shrewsbury and Telford the voice of the youth is completely ignored so all we have left is forward thinking people like yourself to push for us.
If you don’t, no one ever will!
Alas, now it seems it’s too late.
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Also please name the magistrate who complained and provide a source of contact so I can make a complaint directly to him on behalf of me and everyone I’ve shown this story to thus far. This is a complete outrage.
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Twitter is as Twitter does. Why anyone beyond the age of about 8 thinks their every belch and passing thought merits a broadcast to the world at large is a complete mystery. Aptly named.
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Like you said Steve, No personal details were passed on, no addresses no real public harm so why are the courts being so over-reactive. On your side 100% :)
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pray what is a twitter, 1 am still not up to speed with a cassette recorder. am i missing something
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You are best out of it Steve. You need an open democracy to have an open justice system. We have neither in the UK. Only what the system cares to tell us. Any disclosure is poorly executed and certainly does not give the impression that in the majority of cases, justice has been done.
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Steve,
Why did you resign? You weren’t breaking the law and after reading your entries to Twitter I don’t see any compromising information so what’s the problem? You should have stayed and let the complaint be dealt with.
It seems like this is a waste of a good magistrate. I voted no you shouldn’t have resigned in the poll above.
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He seems to be confused about the principle of innocent until proven guilty. To describe some men, before a remand hearing, as being “robbers” seems a bit premature. & to do it on the internet to be publicly accessed is just downright silly.
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His comments show incredibly poor judgement. He appears more concerned with ego than his public service as a magistrate.
So concerned about twittering that he does not apply his mind to the job he should be doing.
No Twittering might have been done in court, but he and his colleagues leave the court room between cases to decide on bail, sentence verdicts etc. If he is so busy letting the world know how important he is, is he concentrating on the work he should be doing?
How many people, defendants, lawyers, victims, witnesses, can have any confidence that he has correctly thought through the cases they are concerned in?
His reference to the Gods, sums up his attitude to being a magistrate, and equally applies to the majority of of the self important.
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In the Crown Court,a defendant is presumed to be innocent until the evidence proves him (or “her” – sorry) guilty on the evidence – a judge has told a jury that is the law.
In rhe magistrates court, do the Gods have to appply that law to mostly drunk members of the criminal fraternity? And what if they are from Manhcester?
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Very undignified if you ask me, once the rot starts with the dignity and decorum of the court being lowered by the Magistrates themselves then we are on a slippery slope.
We have not yet reached the same “joke” as the American Courts but if this attitude catches on, we soon could be. No sympathy at all with the man – shows very poor judgement.
And, like Pitkin, those who think the JPs all come from the “old school tie” lot and can be steryotyped as above in 6 – they most certainly do not. A close friend is one and she is the wife of a a Railway worker.
Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!
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I have given Mr M’s Twits some consideration and wondered if he would respond to my comments in the very public way that he has been championing so far?
“•Awaiting court listing. Looks like I am hearing remand cases today. Hopefully interesting cases.”
Mr M, remand cases are not meant to be ‘interesting’. These people come before you seeking their liberty – NOT to entertain you.
“•What a nightmare drive home last night. Five hours of torture. Sentencing in Ludlow all day today. A lot of motoring and shoplifting offences!”
Mr M, if you find sentencing torturing then I suggest you consider how the convicted feel. If you do not feel that by passing sentence you are assisting the convicted by helping them to reform, creating a positive result for both the convicted and society, then it’s probably best that you have resigned.
“•Home at last. What a day! Ludlow courthouse is ancient. We sit in the Gods passing sentence on the criminal fraternity.”
Mr M, to imply that all the convicted are linked together in some friendly way, is extremely offensive and prejudicial. Some convicted people are deeply remorseful and do not deserve to be tarred with the same brush and dealt with as a member of some brotherhood of criminals.
“•Just keeping up whilst I’m court deciding on sentence. Sad or what.”
Mr M, I may have mis-interpreted this, but it’s that you do not have the stamina for the job. Yes it is very sad that you volunteered to this role a social elevation, yet recognize that you aren’t made of the right metal, but carry on regardless.
“•Finished hearing bail. Three refused for planning robbery of £480,000 from TSB in Dawley, Telford.
•First defendant. Conspiracy to rob TSB of £500,000. Good start – wrong previous convictions presented.
•Just about to hear application from three robbers from Manchester as to whether to remand or not.”
Mr M, all of the above three show prejudice. You refer to them as ‘robbers’. Just what happened to the presumption of innocence? Ever wondered why most defendants opt for trial by jury when ever possible?
“•Called into court today to deal with those arrested last night and held in custody. I guess they will be mostly drunks but you never know.”
Mr M, yet more prejudice and you shouldn’t guess at outcomes, you should only consider evidence put before you.
“•I have resigned after 16 years as a Magistrate due to my policy of wanting to report outcome of cases to the public on Twitter.”
Mr M, you resigned because you ‘guessed’ you’d be found ‘guilty’ and at best reprimanded but most likely removed from office.
“•All I mentioned what the same that was said in Open court. A fellow magistrate thought it was unethical and complained.”
Mr M, you did more make on-line law reports, you expressed personal views that if said in open court would be duly noted by the defense team and used in an appeal. I imagine that your twitters are now being scrutinized right now for that very purpose.
So what do you have to say about that?
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In times like these when we are crying out for more transparency in public services, it’s a travesty that Mr Molyneux is forced to resign for reporting information which is already in the public domain.
And I couldn’t disagree more with Stuart above; his comments and the response by the Justices Advisory Committee both smack of elitism in the court system, another thing we need to do away with.
Mr Molyneux should be reinstated immediately.
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I know Mr Molyneux, not as a JP, or anything else, but as a man who once stuck up for me and my mate where I suspect the vast majority of men in his position would have put their wealth and status before honour and either kept schtum or taken the side of the guy who was talking down to us. He’s one of life’s good guys and I would very much rather have a man of his skill and virtue in public office than someone who is just after the kudos of such a position. He did nothing wrong in my book.
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Steve: Re #18, I don’t think it’s the Court Service that has over reacted here. They received a complaint and where obliged to consider it. Mr M resigned before the complaint had been considered – if anyone over reacted, it was Mr M.
John: Re #20, the justice system is generally open. You can sit the public gallery anytime you want and observe it, subject to a few precautions to protect the vulnerable.
Robert: #22, spot on re Presumption of innocence. Grounds for Appeal and possibility of trial being abandoned (albeit unlikely in this case, although I have not read all his twitting). And as many defendants receive legal aid, the tax payer pays for the Appeal (a very expensive matter), which as it isn’t going to cost the defendant, they will usually go for regardless of the likelihood of success.
Bob: #27, if he did nothing wrong, why did he resign? Hmmmm?
Mr M’s actions have been foolish and just like some criminal’s who deny their wrong doings and try to cowardly run away from their acts, Mr M has done the same. If he had any strength of character he would either accept his wrong doings appropriately or vigorously defend his actions.
He failure to do either only leave people to make inferences. I wonder if he will be responding to his critics here, as he is so keep to champion this type of media? Hmmmmm?
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And he did what wrong???
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Whilst he technically not done anything ‘illegal;’ surely there are ethical considerations to be made? Yes, I think he was right to resign as ethically, maybe he should have kept the twittering for outside the courtroom! I personally have no faith in someone who can trivilaise court cases is such a grandoise manner and to be so flippant about the whole thing, just screams of arrogance really – and yes, I know this man so I can comment!
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Perhaps if all the magistrates resigned and we replaced them with real people, with a real understanding of the concept of JUSTICE the world would be a better place.
We are in the mess we are in because of the so called justice system which is there to protect the guilty and persecute the innocent.
One less magistrate is just a start in the right direction.
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Sean, for information, there is no “elitism” whatsoever in the Magistracy. Any person (except the obvious) are free to apply.
The bench is made up of all sorts from the highest to the lowest, not long ago the papers showed a new ethnic Magistrate barely out of his teens and still wet behind the ears. His experience of life was virtually nil, his knowledge of the wider aspects of society was virtually nil and peoples freedom or otherwise will depend on his judgement.
I would venture that it is this sort of muddled thinking that is a major contributory factory in our laughable criminal justice system. This comic action by this magistrate shows the depths to which we have sunk. I am with rpt Barrington Black and Captain Cynical, sack the lot, start again and make people tremble in their shoes at the prospect of appearing before the Magistrates Court – because at the moment many regard it as a joke.
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Whilst I’m in agreement with Stuart in his concerns of magistrates with little or no life experience neing appointed, and agree that the actions of the magistrate referred to in the article were comic, and in my view unethical and a breach of confidence, I fail to see how the ethnic origin of the young magistrate referred to in his post has any bearing on the matter. Why then mention it?
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What an idiot.
No wonder this country is in such a mess.
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Peter, I am not into the pedantic, Politically Correct fever gripping our sick society. I didn’t give it a seconds thought, but now I come to think of it, it was to “labour” the point that subject to all the norms of being a respectable, responsible and sensible person and with whatever else applies, just about anybody, irrespective of race, religion, colour, ethnic origin etc etc etc etc etc etc etc, can be a Magistrate, thereby shooting down in flames, Sean’s assertion that the Magistracy is elitist.
You will have me thinking that you were a left wing Social Worker or similar in a previous life is you raise silly issues like that.
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