POLICE officers were called to Warrington Magistrates' Court following an altercation in a courtroom which bizarrely saw a man attempt to arrest a judge.

On Tuesday, December 19, District Judge McGarva was presiding over a case in Warrington Magistrates' Court which would have seen a defendant enter a plea regarding an assault.

Philip McLaughlin, of Irving's Crescent in Saltney, Chester, was due to appear before the court in order to enter a plea after he was charged with assaulting a woman in October.

Warrington Guardian: The incident took place at the Law Courts, near the centre of WarringtonThe incident took place at the Law Courts, near the centre of Warrington

However, as soon as McLaughlin was brought into the dock, a member of the public gallery began heckling the judge.

When entering the courtroom, the man claimed he was a 'freeman' and McLaughlin's legal representative - despite having no right to practice law.

For this reason, the man had no right to address the court.

Despite this, he continued heckling members of the court from the public gallery, at which point McLaughlin began applauding from the dock.

Other members of the gallery began cheering and applauding alongside the defendant.

Struggling over the noise from the gallery, Judge McGarva explained that McLaughlin was present to enter a plea.

It became clear that the defendant was not interested in engaging with proceedings, going as far as to claim that the judge had 'no right to practice law outside the city of London.'

The judge outlined that because McLaughlin had previously denied the charges levelled against him, a 'not guilty' plea would be entered on his behalf.

McLaughlin's supporters continued to make noise, with one man shouting that he was going to place the judge under arrest for 'fraud.'

The court heard that McLaughlin would next be due in court at a date in April 2024.

Judge McGarva then retired from the courtroom.

It was at this point that members of the public gallery began hassling the courtroom usher, telling her that she would end up behind bars and that she was a public servant and they were her 'masters.'

Security staff were summoned to the courtroom and they asked the rabble of 10 people to leave the building, though this request was ignored by the crowd.

They continued heckling staff, claiming that the security guards were 'pig ignorant' and that the barristers in the courtroom were 'perverts.'

Police officers were eventually called to the building to escort the crowd off the premises.

When contacted for comment, a Cheshire Police spokesperson said: "At 11am on Tuesday, December 19, police were called to reports of a disturbance at the Law Courts, Warrington.

"The caller reported a group of approximately 10 people refusing to leave the court.

"Officers attended and on arrival the group were outside the building and there was no sign of any disorder."