A TOUGH-talking district judge has put two men in the cells in the last week because they answered their mobile phones while his court was in session.

Peter Ward, a district judge from Bolton who is on secondment in Blackpool, sent to the court's cells one man who was actually in the dock and another who was sitting in the public gallery.

A third person incurred the wrath of the judge after taking a phone call while facing charges of handling stolen goods.

The first incident happened last Friday.

Paul Fitton, aged 26, from Blackpool, was in the dock facing a charge of being drunk and disorderly when his phone rang. But instead of switching it off, Fitton calmly answered, saying, "Hello there, I'm in court", and started a conversation.

Judge Ward told him: "I am prepared to ignore mobile phones if people turn them off immediately. People who answer their phones in court will go to the cells."

Fitton shouted obscenities as he was taken to the cells for contempt by a security officer.

He spent two hours in custody before being brought back before the judge and apologising.

The second incident happened when Gavin Chesworth, aged 27, from Kirkham, near Preston, answered his phone in the dock on Tuesday during his appearance in court which was to set a trial date after he pleaded not guilty to handling stolen goods.

But after a warning from Judge Ward, Chesworth shouted, "I am in court", into the mouthpiece and immediately hung up.

A third man answered his phone yesterday while in the public gallery.

Derek Littlejohns, aged 26, from Edinburgh, was in court to hear a case against his brother.

The judge summoned custody officers and sent Littlejohns to the cells for contempt.

The judge told him: "You were actually receiving a call. You are not to do that. This is the third time this has happened within a matter of days. There are notices round the court warning people to turn off their phones."