A sex offender was forced to flee Swindon Magistrates’ Court after a man threatened violence during the hearing.
Carl Kavanagh, 37, is said to have suffered a “meltdown” ahead of his sentencing hearing after discovering his young victim and her father were there to watch proceedings.
Justice is served in public in the United Kingdom, meaning anyone can watch a court hearing of interest by sitting in the public gallery.
After the defendant was handed down a suspended prison sentence for engaging in sexual communication with an acquaintance’s 14-year-old daughter, her father made a remark.
Heard by the defendant, and a court usher, it’s claimed he said: “I’ll batter you”.
The victim’s father, and his victim, were then seen to be waiting outside the court. It appeared as if they were waiting for Kavanagh to exit.
In a mild panic, it was decided the best course of action was to allow the defendant out of the court via the back door – usually out of bounds to the public.
District judge Joanna Dickens briefly pondered on whether or not to have the man arrested under the Contempt of Court Act. Though she soon decided against it.
