Judge suggests young people more likely to be assaulted because they ‘go out drinking’

Judge suggests young people more likely to be assaulted because they ‘go out drinking’ Recorder Donald Tait has been given a warning for misconduct - Bookmark A judge has been given a warning for misconduct after he suggested that young people are more likely to be assaulted these days as they “go out drinking” with people they meet online. Recorder Donald Tait made the comment in front of a jury and the complainant after a defendant was acquitted in a criminal case. “These days young people meet people online and go out drinking, what do they expect to happen,” he said after the not guilty verdict was handed down. One juror was “upset” by the comment and laid a formal complaint. They said they believed that Recorder Tait was suggesting that the young complainant should not have behaved as they did, as it made them more likely to be assaulted. The juror said they believed that the comment had upset the complainant and other members of the jury. Recorder Tait, who works in the south west of England, has now been given a formal warning for misconduct. It was said that his comment was “unnecessary, unwise and inappropriately critical”, and breached the required “professionalism and sensitivity” that judges are supposed to use. Recorder Tait has since expressed his remorse and regret at the comment and he has offered a full apology. A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: “Recorder Tait acknowledged that he may have used the words attributed to him. “He noted that any such remarks were made only after the jury had returned their not guilty verdicts. He expressed sincere regret, offered a full apology, and confirmed that he has reflected on the matter. “Following an investigation under the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023, a nominated judge found that the comment made by Recorder Tait was unnecessary, unwise, and inappropriately critical of both parties in the case, and that it caused distress to the jury. “The nominated judge concluded that the comment amounted to misconduct and recommended that Recorder Tait receive a sanction of formal advice. “After careful consideration, the Lord Chancellor and the Lady Chief Justice agreed with the nominated judge’s finding of misconduct but decided that a more severe sanction than that recommended was appropriate and issued Recorder Tait with [a] formal warning.”