by Keith Hunt

A judge who once hit the headlines when his mobile phone rang in court during an attempted murder trial has been appointed to the bench at Maidstone Crown Court.

The Rt Hon Judge Charles Byers, 63, previously sat at Woolwich Crown Court in south east London.

He was called to the Bar in 1973 and served as a Recorder between 1993 and 1999. He was then appointed a judge on the south east circuit.

Judge Byers has presided over some high-profile cases, but it was at Woolwich that he was left red-faced when his phone sounded while hearing a lawyer’s submissions.

As others looked around for the "offender", he sheepishly pulled the phone from his robes and declared: "I didn't think I had it with me today."

Judge Byers - whose father Baron Byers was a life peer - lists his recreations as craft, the countryside, sailing and water skiing.

He is known in the judiciary as a character with a ready quip.

On his first day at Maidstone, he jokingly greeted one barrister by saying: "Just as I thought my day was getting better!"