A COUPLE were left red-faced in the gallery of one Swindon court after a magistrate gave them a telling off – for canoodling.

Peter Wells, chairman of the bench in Swindon Magistrates’ Court’s third courtroom, raised the temperature when he stopped proceedings to tell the steamy pair to behave.

The experienced justice of the peace said: “Respect the court. You’re not there for kissing and cuddling.”

The couple appeared a little embarrassed to find themselves the centre of attention.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Justice could not produce a guide to how those who find themselves in court should behave, aside from giving the usual warnings against using mobile phones and filming proceedings.

Breaking court rules is typically deemed a contempt of court – an offence that can come with hefty jail time.

In 2017, then 35-year-old Sebastian Stroud found himself behind bars for several hours after a Swindon district judge locked him up for contempt of court.

Stroud, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of racially aggravated threatening behaviour, was asked how he intended to pay outstanding court fines.

He muttered: “I’m not working, mate.” That was met with a strict reply, “I am not your mate”, from District Judge Simon Cooper.

The judge continued: “I am not going to be spoken to like that.”