A BARRISTER has recalled the moment he intervened to stop a fight between two suspected burglars as they entered a courtroom last week.

Mr Wauchope, 53, of 5 Pump Court chambers in central London, broke up a fight between two young men who were appearing on burglary charges at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, May 13.

Bongeka Simela, from Woodford Green, and Samuel Olubode, from North Woolwich, both 19, began fighting when they discovered they had both blamed each other for a pair of burglaries in Ilford on January 2, while being questioned by detectives after they were arrested.

Mr Wauchope, from Kent, who had his glasses knocked off during the scuffle, said: “I was standing in court, but no judge was present and people were coming in and out bringing papers in and things.

“As it happens the two had tried to stitch each other up while being interviewed and after not seeing each other for a few months some animosity had built up.

“Both of the men were brought into the area behind the dock, and I could just hear punches going in and a scuffle going on.

“I just thought that they might have been beating up the security guard.

“I jumped over the railing and the first thing I could see was the guard lying flat on his back, so I grabbed the one closest to me and held his arms and lead him into the cell behind the dock.”

The pair were later returned to the court in handcuffs and admitted the two counts of burglary.

Simela and Olubode will both appear again at Snaresbrook Crown Court for trial on June 28.