Crown Court

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The aggressive and threatening behaviour came at the end of a sixweek trial at Bradford Crown Court which saw nine paedophiles being jailed for a total of 132 years earlier this week. Prosecution barrister Kama Melly QC and junior counsel Sharon Beattie were heckled and verbally abused inside the court building late on Tuesday afternoon after the defendants had been found guilty. Miss Melly said around 10 people had hung around the public concourse area.

The lawyers were the last to leave the courtroom when they spotted the group waiting at the top of a stairwell. Miss Melly said the mob, including men and women, began a slow hand clap, calling them "corrupt", "tramps" and telling them: "Hope you get raped". They immediately returned to the court offices and informed officials of the abuse. Police were called and the angry mob had their names taken and were barred from attending Wednesday's sentencing hearing.

Guilty...Basharat Khaliq

West Yorkshire Police is considering criminal charges. Ms Melly said: "It was absolutely appalling behaviour on their part. "We should be able to do our jobs in the pursuit of justice without having to take such shocking forms of abuse." Trial judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, the Recorder of Bradford, described the targeting of the barristers as "absolutely outrageous".

Threatened...Kama Melly QC