10th June 1983
A youth who was jailed for contempt after refusing to take his hat off had the last laugh on a judge yesterday. He ran out of the courtroom, and got clean away.
Judge Kenneth Smithies had spotted the young man standing in Southampton County Court with his hands in his pockets and wearing the hat. On hearing the judge jail him for two days, the youth turned to the court and said: “This man is a joke.”
Then he fled.
Last night red-faced police admitted that their only description of the runaway was that he was scruffy and was wearing a hat, jacket, and jeans.
The incident happened during an application for the possession of five houses used by squatters.
The youth was among 30 squatters in the public gallery.
Judge Smithies had told him: “You ought to display respect for your Sovereign.”
A police spokesman said last night: “At the moment we have no idea who this youth is. He [sic] are making inquiries.”