The leading QC – who will also run Corrie star Bill Roache’s trial – quit over trip to sauna … but was later reinstated
The Daily Mirror
Anthony Patrick Russell
When judge Andrew Russell was caught visiting a gay brothel, it looked like the end of a glittering career.
The part-time Recorder of Bolton and eminent QC quit after his trip to the sauna was exposed in a newspaper sting.
But he bounced back. Mr Russell was later reinstated and went on to become a senior judge.
And last week, the 62-year-old sparked controversy after sentencing former It’s a Knockout host Hall to just 15 months in prison for three decades of sex attacks on young girls.
Judge Russell, recently appointed to oversee Corrie star Bill Roache’s child sex trial, is alleged to have gone into a “dark room” inside the building with a leading doctor and a hospital porter. He was a part-time judge and a prominent Manchester barrister at the time he visited the Greenhouse club in the Walsall, West Mids.
The Greenhouse Sauna, Walsall
Google
Within days, Judge Russell admitted going into the brothel – today advertised as “the UK’s No1 gay sauna”. But he insisted the description of what went on inside was “factually inaccurate in some respects and exaggerated”.
He resigned as a judge and from his post as the Inland Revenue’s top lawyer.
But in 2000, he applied to be reinstated and was welcomed back into the fold, rising to senior circuit judge within six years.
It is understood the allegations were known about and discussed by legal chiefs when that decision and subsequent promotions were made.
A spokeswoman for the judiciary said: “In Apri
l 1996 Judge Russell QC resigned his recordership following newspaper revelations regarding his private life.
Stuart Hall in court
Caters
“He strongly disputed, and continues to dispute, the details of what is alleged to have happened inside the premises, although he admitted he did visit them. The then Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay, accepted his resignation. In May 2001, Lord Irvine as Lord Chancellor, reinstated him as a Recorder on the Northern Circuit.
“Judge Russell QC applied to become a Circuit Judge in 2004. Following an open competition, conducted by the Commission for Judicial Appointments, Judge Russell was appointed as a full-time circuit judge by Lord Falconer as Lord Chancellor.
“In 2005, again following another open competition conducted by the Commission for Judicial Appointments, Lord Falconer appointed Judge Russell to the post of senior circuit judge at Preston Combined Court.”
After Judge Russell jailed 83-year-old pervert Hall for his sex attacks on 13 girls, one as young as nine, between 1967 and 1987, senior figures lined up to criticise the lenient sentence. The broadcaster admitted the assaults.
As the BBC star was taken down to the cells, one of his victims tearfully called out: “It’s not enough.” With him likely to serve less than seven months before being freed on licence, another victim outside Preston crown court said: “That’s not justice. I would have said another four years.”
Stuart Hall
Daily Mirror
Hall’s prison term is now under investigation by the Attorney General. Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry said the sentence was “not just a lenient sentence, it is unduly lenient”.
Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman tweeted: “18yrs offending & Stuart Hall gets less than 18 months. Unduly lenient sentence.”
The Attorney General now has 28 days from the day of sentence to decide if the sentence should be referred to the Court of Appeal for review.
Judge Russell will hear evidence against Corrie’s Roache, 81 – who plays Ken Barlow – when he goes on trial over claims he raped a 15-year-old girl in 1967 and indecently assaulted four girls aged between 11 and 16. He denies the charges.
On his CV, the judge – nephew of late former Lord Chief Justice Sir Thomas Patrick Russell – lists his hobbies as singing, listening to music, video photography, travel and the countryside. He began his career in 1975.
The part-time Recorder of Bolton and eminent QC quit after his trip to the sauna was exposed in a newspaper sting.
But he bounced back. Mr Russell was later reinstated and went on to become a senior judge.
And last week, the 62-year-old sparked controversy after sentencing former It’s a Knockout host Hall to just 15 months in prison for three decades of sex attacks on young girls.
Judge Russell, recently appointed to oversee Corrie star Bill Roache’s child sex trial, is alleged to have gone into a “dark room” inside the building with a leading doctor and a hospital porter. He was a part-time judge and a prominent Manchester barrister at the time he visited the Greenhouse club in the Walsall, West Mids.
The Greenhouse Sauna, Walsall
Within days, Judge Russell admitted going into the brothel – today advertised as “the UK’s No1 gay sauna”. But he insisted the description of what went on inside was “factually inaccurate in some respects and exaggerated”.
He resigned as a judge and from his post as the Inland Revenue’s top lawyer.
But in 2000, he applied to be reinstated and was welcomed back into the fold, rising to senior circuit judge within six years.
It is understood the allegations were known about and discussed by legal chiefs when that decision and subsequent promotions were made.
A spokeswoman for the judiciary said: “In Apri
l 1996 Judge Russell QC resigned his recordership following newspaper revelations regarding his private life.
Stuart Hall in court
Caters
“He strongly disputed, and continues to dispute, the details of what is alleged to have happened inside the premises, although he admitted he did visit them. The then Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay, accepted his resignation. In May 2001, Lord Irvine as Lord Chancellor, reinstated him as a Recorder on the Northern Circuit.
“Judge Russell QC applied to become a Circuit Judge in 2004. Following an open competition, conducted by the Commission for Judicial Appointments, Judge Russell was appointed as a full-time circuit judge by Lord Falconer as Lord Chancellor.
“In 2005, again following another open competition conducted by the Commission for Judicial Appointments, Lord Falconer appointed Judge Russell to the post of senior circuit judge at Preston Combined Court.”
After Judge Russell jailed 83-year-old pervert Hall for his sex attacks on 13 girls, one as young as nine, between 1967 and 1987, senior figures lined up to criticise the lenient sentence. The broadcaster admitted the assaults.
As the BBC star was taken down to the cells, one of his victims tearfully called out: “It’s not enough.” With him likely to serve less than seven months before being freed on licence, another victim outside Preston crown court said: “That’s not justice. I would have said another four years.”
Stuart Hall
Daily Mirror
Hall’s prison term is now under investigation by the Attorney General. Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry said the sentence was “not just a lenient sentence, it is unduly lenient”.
Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman tweeted: “18yrs offending & Stuart Hall gets less than 18 months. Unduly lenient sentence.”
The Attorney General now has 28 days from the day of sentence to decide if the sentence should be referred to the Court of Appeal for review.
Judge Russell will hear evidence against Corrie’s Roache, 81 – who plays Ken Barlow – when he goes on trial over claims he raped a 15-year-old girl in 1967 and indecently assaulted four girls aged between 11 and 16. He denies the charges.
On his CV, the judge – nephew of late former Lord Chief Justice Sir Thomas Patrick Russell – lists his hobbies as singing, listening to music, video photography, travel and the countryside. He began his career in 1975.
Stuart Hall to face SEVENTEEN new claims of sex abuse
The incidents are alleged to have taken place in the 1960s, 70s and 80s with the youngest ‘victim’ being aged 10
Jailed: Stuart Hall’s police photo
Lancashire Police
Stuart Hall faces 17 new abuse claims after a fresh wave of alleged victims came forward to say they have been molested by the disgraced BBC presenter.
Solicitors are now investigating the allegations which could leave Hall, jailed for 15 months last week, facing a string of fresh charges to answer.
The incidents are alleged to have all taken place in the 1960s, 70s and 80s with the youngest ‘victim’ being aged 10 at the time.
Law firm Pannone said it was now representing many people who have come forward after being left outraged by the sentence handed down to Hall.
A spokesman for the Manchester-based team of solicitors said: “At this stage we are looking cases against Hall.
“Two of the victims have come forward within the past few days after learning of the sentence Hall received.
“The claims of the alleged new victims will be now be investigated to see whether further action is required.
Hall, 83, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, was jailed last week for 14 offences that took place between 1967 and 1985.
After he was sentenced the police immediately praised the bravery which victims had shown in coming forward.
Det Supt Neil Esseen, of Lancashire Police, said: “They have been tremendously brave in highlighting this horrendous abuse perpetrated by Mr Hall over a long period of time.”
Meanwhile Hall’s family have spoken out about Hall’s offences saying they are still in “shock”.
While Hall languishes in prison his wife Hazel has been forced to pick up the pieces at the Hall’s £1.2m family home in Prestbury, Manchester.
Yesterday Hall’s daughter-in-law Melanie, separated from the presenter’s son Daniel, said the whole family were struggling to believe the turn of events.
Speaking yesterday Melanie said: “It’s been a shock and it is Hazel I feel sorry for at the moment.
“At the end of the day he is still my children’s grandfather and he was always very good to them.”
She said she had never seen Hall behave in an inappropriate way, saying “absolutely, not at all”.
“No-one can quite believe any of this,” she added. “We are all just try to get on with our lives as best as we can.”
Hall is expected to face a string of compensation claims from his victims in the weeks ahead.
He has been accused of signing his mansion away into his wife’s name to protect his fortune from any compensation claims.
His name was removed from the land registry in February this year, making Hazel, 75, the sole owner.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/stuart-hall-face-seventeen-new-1980804#ixzz2X6r9eEW4
