The scale of sexism in UK courts is exaggerated, the Lord Chief Justice has suggested, saying that the small number of cases gives a “false impression”.

Last month Lord Burnett warned that sexist judges will be disciplined as he admitted “great concern” at the lack of diversity in the upper echelons of the judiciary. This came in response to allegations of “misogynistic” behaviour towards female advocates which were widely reported.

It followed criticism by Chris Henley, chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, who said some judges were “much more uninhibited” in their criticism of young women and that he was currently handling complaints of “brutish” conduct to pregnant female colleagues.

However in an apparent U-Turn, while giving evidence to the House of Lords Constitution Committee today [WEDS] Lord Burnett said: “I'm not aware of any evidence that women are deterred from applying to judicial office… I fear that there was a phenomenon in play that is all too familiar to politicians...

"The same examples [of sexism] get repeated time and time again and the impressions given are false.... of the hundreds of judges that sit in high court and family court, if there is a problem that exists in this nature it exists in a very small number. "