Magistrate reprimanded for telling defendant ‘sweet dreams’ as he jailed him
The JP remarked: ‘You have had your day of freedom, now back to prison. Sweet dreams.’
By contributor George Lithgow, PA
Published
A magistrate who wished a defendant “sweet dreams” as he sent them back to prison has been reprimanded.
Edwin Hastings-Smith JP’s comment triggered a furious reaction, putting a prison officer “at risk of injury”, an investigation by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office heard.
As he was sentencing the defendant, the JP remarked: “You have had your day of freedom, now back to prison. Sweet dreams.”
