Preston judge resigns in race remark investigation

A district judge has resigned after he allegedly told a court that a victim of crime "won't be working anywhere important" because her surname is Patel.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it made an official complaint about Deputy District Judge Richard Terrence Peter Hollingworth after his "inappropriate" comments about the harassment victim at Preston Magistrates' Court in Preston, Lancashire.

He allegedly made the racist remark after the prosecution said 22-year-old Deepa Patel might struggle to attend Preston Magistrates' Court at short notice for the sentencing of the defendant, the Sun on Sunday said.

He reportedly replied: "It won't be a problem. She won't be working anywhere important. She'll only be working in a shop or an off licence."

When the stunned prosecutor Rachel Parker asked him to clarify his comments he replied: "With a name like Patel, and her ethnic background, she won't be working anywhere important."

Ms Parker said she was "professionally embarrassed" after the incident in October and could no longer work on the case.

The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office confirmed that Judge Hollingworth has resigned as a district judge while his role as a first tier immigration judge is under review.

A spokesman said he is "currently refraining from all judicial duties".