Brother jailed for attacking judge in court

Paul Graham, 27, raced from the public gallery and vaulted over a gate to get behind the judge’s bench before throwing punches at Judge John Devaux at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday.

Judge Devaux had just sentenced his brother Philip, 30, to 30 months in prison for causing death by dangerous driving.

Appearing in handcuffs, Paul Graham was flanked in the dock by three security guards throughout yesterday’s hearing and an extra guard stood by the exit.

Judge David Goodin described how the High Sheriff of Suffolk, Sir Edward Greenwell, and a local clergyman who had been sitting alongside Judge Devaux “did their best to bring the attack to an end”.

Richard Potts, mitigating, said his client did not accept he threw punches but accepted there had been a struggle and that he had behaved in an intimidating manner. He added: “It was a spontaneous act borne out of high emotion. It was an outpouring of grief.”