A judge won plaudits for buying ice creams – for every staff member at court.

Judge Melissa Clarke, the lead civil judge at Oxford Crown and County Court, booked the City Ices van to visit over the lunch break on Monday.

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As temperatures soared in the city, staff members queued up for sweet treats – courtesy of the generous judge.

Kim Payne served up scores of sweet treats from her spot in the court car park. She told the Oxford Mail that soft ices were proving the most popular item on the menu.

“Everyone likes an ice cream,” Judge Clarke said when asked why she’d booked the van and paid for it out of her own pocket.

The judge won plaudits online, with barrister Charlotte John saying: “What a wonderful thing to have done.” Another barrister, Dave Green, described the gesture as ‘excellent news’.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward