Father jailed after threatening family court judge

A father who threatened a family court judge has been sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of court. 

The judgment, handed down in August but published this week, concerns Daniel Hesketh who was found in contempt of court in June. Hesketh appeared as a party at the family court in St Helens before District Judge Gray in January this year.

In a transcript of the hearing, Hesketh is heard threatening the judge while he was conducting proceedings, the judgment statees. 

Mr Justice Poole, sitting in the family division of the High Court, proceeded in Hesketh’s absence after previously adjourning the hearing. He said the evidence against Hesketh was ‘simple’ as ‘the words used speak for themselves’ and there was no ‘particular disadvantage’ in proceeding in his absence.

‘In contrast, there would be prejudice to the witnesses from a further adjournment. I am particularly conscious of the impact on other cases of DJ Gray having to repeatedly come to court ready to give evidence and therefore not being available for other court business which requires his judicial attention.’

The judge was ‘satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the allegations were proved’ and ‘constitute contempt in the face of the court’ to the criminal standard of proof.

Hesketh meanwhile pleaded guilty to a Public Order Act offence in relation to the conduct. The judge acknowledged the ‘frustration that whilst attempts to locate Mr Hesketh for the purposes of service in these civil proceedings have been in vain, his attendance has been secured both for police interview…and at court’.

He added: ‘There might be lessons to be learned about collaboration and co-ordination between the two branches of the justice system.’

Sentencing Hesketh to a total of four months imprisonment, Poole said: ‘Overall his interruptions, disruption, anger, abuse and occasional threats continued for a total period of well over half an hour.

‘The verbal abuse of the judge was extremely unpleasant and insulting.' This included 'direct threats of physical violence against the judge and his family', Poole said.  ‘All litigants should understand that disrupting proceedings and directing abuse or threats at judges or others in court is unacceptable.’