A “sarcastic and condescending” judge who banged her hand on her desk after a member of the public appeared before her at a family court hearing has been reprimanded.

Judge Judith Hughes, who oversees cases in London, was the subject of an investigation following a complaint to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO).

Detail of the complaint has been outlined in a statement published on the JCIO website.

A spokesman said in the statement that Judge Hughes, who had been speaking to a litigant not represented by lawyers, had also been accused of banging her hand on her desk in frustration.

He said Lord Chancellor David Gauke and Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett had decided that her behaviour did not "demonstrate the standards expected of a judicial office holder" and issued "formal advice".

The spokesman added that Judge Hughes had "expressed regret".

"The Lord Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor have considered a complaint that Her Honour Judge Judith Hughes spoke to an unrepresented party in a family case in a sarcastic and condescending manner and banged her hand on her desk in frustration during a hearing," the statement said.

"They took into consideration that Her Honour Judge Hughes took responsibility for her actions and expressed regret but decided that her behaviour failed to demonstrate the standards expected of a judicial office holder and have issued Her Honour Judge Hughes with formal advice."