His Honour Judge Melbourne Inman KC (The Recorder of Birmingham) sentenced Lucy Connolly at Birmingham Crown Court to two years and seven months in prison for publishing written material that incited racial hatred. Lucy Connolly was ordered to serve 40% of her 31-month sentence in prison before being released on licence.
His Honour Judge Melbourne Donald Inman KC retires as a Senior Circuit Judge with effect from 1 July 2025 – Updated 24th July 2025
HHJ Melbourne Inman KC told Birmingham Crown Court the sentence for these offences was intended to “punish and deter”.
His Honour Judge Melbourne Inman KC on X !
HHJ Inman was shown on the List of Circuit Judges published on the Courts and Tribunal Judiciary website.
| His Honour Judge Inman KC | Midlands | 13-10-2014 |
HHJ Inman was shown on the Resident Judges list published on the Courts and Tribunal Judiciary website.
| Circuit | Court | Judges | Date of appointment |
| Midland | Birmingham Crown Court | HHJ Melbourne Inman KC | 13-10-14 |
His Honour Judge Inman was a Circuit Judge.
Companies House listed Melbourne Donald INMAN as a DIRECTOR of CHIPPING CAMPDEN SCHOOL (07680770) with his occupation listed as High Court Judge.
On the Chipping Campden School Trustees page his bio states “I am a Senior Circuit Judge and have sat as a Judge for seventeen years.”
Update 23rd October 2024 – Following an email sent to HHJ Inman and the Lady Chief Justice on the 21st October 2024 asking for clarification, a CH01 Change of Particulars for Director was filed at Companies House on the 23rd October 2024. Mr Melbourne Donald Inman occupation was changed to “JUDICIARY”. Needless to say HHJ Inman and the Lady Chief Justice did not respond to my email.
(1) It is an offence for a person, without reasonable excuse, to—
(a) deliver or cause to be delivered to the registrar, for any purpose of the Companies Acts, a document that is misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular, or
(b) make to the registrar, for any purpose of the Companies Acts, a statement that is misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular.
Section 1112 of the Companies Act 2006
I did not believe that HHJ Melbourne Inman KC was a High Court Judge so his submission and entry at Companies House was false. I could not find any evidence that he was ever authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge. Regardless of whether HHJ Inman was ever authorised to sit as a High Court Judge, his occupation is still a Circuit Judge (Senior).
Was HHJ Inman listing his occupation as a High Court Judge at Companies House an honest mistake or deliberate dishonesty (Fraud) ?
(1) A person is in breach of this section if he—
(a) dishonestly makes a false representation, and
(b )intends, by making the representation—
(i) to make a gain for himself or another, or
(ii) to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.
(2) A representation is false if—
(a) it is untrue or misleading, and
(b) the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading
Fraud Act 2006 – Section 2 Fraud by false representation
The three key values which are central to the role of judicial office holders (JOHs) in England and Wales are:
• Independence
• Impartiality
• Integrity
If HHJ Melbourne Inman KC is not a High Court Judge then this would normally need to be referred to the Police, JCIO and Companies House to investigate. Can you Email a Judge ? No one is above the law.
The Judicial Press Office was contacted for comment but no response was received.
Authorisation to sit as a High Court Judge
HHJ Inman may have been authorised to sit as a High Court Judge by s9(1) of the Senior Courts Act as amended by the Crime and Courts Act 2013.
According to CRIMINAL PRACTICE DIRECTIONS 2015 DIVISION XII HHJ Inman should be addressed as “My Lord” in court.
Modes of Address B.1 – The following judges, when sitting in court, should be addressed as ‘My Lord’ or ‘My Lady’
(b) any Circuit Judge sitting as a judge of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) or the High Court under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981;
(d) any Senior Circuit Judge who is an Honorary Recorder.
Description B.3 – In cause lists, forms and orders members of the judiciary should be described as follows:
(a) Circuit Judges, as ‘His [or Her] Honour Judge A’. When the judge is sitting as a judge of the High Court under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981, the words ‘sitting as a judge of the High Court’ should be added;
The Judicial Appointments Commission have published a Section 9(1) Policy which lays out the selection of persons for membership of the pool of judges who are authorised to act as judges of the High Court under s9(1) of the Senior Courts Act, as amended by the Crime and Courts Act 2013.
The Judicial Appointments Commission have also published a document Section 9(1) protocol. This protocol concerns the process by which authorisations for Recorders and Circuit Judges to sit as judges of the High Court under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 should take place.
Section 23 of The Courts Act 1971 covers a Circuit judge or Recorder sitting as High Court Judge.
(1) If requested to do so by or on behalf of the Lord Chancellor, a Circuit judge or Recorder shall sit as a judge of the High Court for the hearing of such case or cases or at such place and for such time as may be specified by or on behalf of the Lord Chancellor.
(2) So long as a Circuit judge or Recorder sits as a judge of the High Court in pursuance of a request under this section he shall be treated, subject to subsection (3) below, for all purposes as, and accordingly may perform any of the functions of, a puisne judge of the High Court.
(3) A Circuit judge or Recorder sitting as a judge of the High Court in pursuance of a request under this section shall not be treated as a judge of the High Court for the purpose of any provision made by or under any enactment and relating to—
(a) the appointment, retirement, removal or disqualification of judges of the High Court,
(b) the tenure of office and oaths to be taken by such judges, or
(c) the remuneration, allowances or pensions of such judges.
“Publicity is the very soul of justice. . . . It keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial….Where there is no publicity there is no justice”
Jeremy Bentham – Mr Justice Cobb: ‘Justice must be seen to be done’
Check out our articles on Dodgy Judges, Judges Salaries and Fees, Mr Justice Williams, His Honour Andrew Menary KC, His Honour Judge Guy Kearl, His Honour Now His Dishonour, His Honour Judge Michael Slater, His Honour Judge Jeremy William Richardson KC, His Honour Judge Martin Davis, HHJ Farquhar, HHJ Bedford, DDJ Nicholes, Do you Have to Bow to a Judge ?, Can you Email a Judge ?, Can you Criticise a Judge ? and the highly dubious Sussex Family Justice Board.
The Ministry of Injustice is not the Ministry of Justice nor is it affiliated in any way with the justice system, legal profession, police or any other law enforcement agencies.
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