AFTER 30 years of service one of High Wycombe's most experienced magistrates has retired from the bench.

Judy Wicks left her seat at Wycombe Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, June 14, a day before turning 70.

Court number one was taken over for an emotional and laughter-filled farewell presentation for Mrs Wicks, who was chairman of the bench from 1994 until 1997.

She was praised for her dedicated service, especially for her 25 years on the family panel.

Mike Pearce, the current chairman of Wycombe magistrates, gave his personal thanks for her support and for her work on the appraisals panel.

He joked: "When I think of this bench I liken it to a candle, shedding a little light into the criminal justice system, but no candle can function without its Wicks.

"Thank you Judy for all your years of service."

Mrs Wicks read out her own sentence sheet as she sat on the bench for the last time.

The aggravating features, she said, were her impending birthday and the fact that she had seen crime figures rise during her three decades as a magistrate.

On a more serious note, she said: "I see people who give birth to babies already heroin addicted, I am really quite glad I will not have to deal with that anymore."

Rosemary Lake for the Crown Prosecution Service and Steven Toghill for the defence both agreed that Mrs Wicks had a calming influence on the court and Wycombe magistrates would be the poorer for her retirement.

Linda Bowell, from the probation service, said that Mrs Wicks' clear objective in sentencing were always very useful.

The final words went to the clerk to the justices, Philip Knowles, who said that she always showed great sensitivity when faced with difficult and often distressing cases that came before the court.

Mrs Wicks was in charge during the amalgamation of Wycombe and Beaconsfield magistrates and oversaw the smooth joining of the two courts.

Mr Knowles added: "She was responsible for bringing together the two parts of the bench, moulding them into an effective unit. She has always been a great friend to staff of the court. We will miss her a great deal."