Magistrate Edward King threatened to throw defence lawyer Larry Scott out of Magistrates' Court yesterday saying he was disrespecting the court and the office of magistrate.

Tempers flared when Mr. Scott demanded that Mr. King give an explanation for the heavy sentence handed down to Vaughn Edwards, 32, who was imprisoned for repeatedly driving a car without a licence.

Edwards, of Happy Valley Road, was also disqualified from driving for a further four years. He has an extensive driving record dating back to 1989.

Mr. Scott told Mr. King that Edwards drove the car because it was an emergency; his child had been stranded at school.

Edwards claimed his relationship with the child's mother was strained and when the school called to inform him that no one had picked up his child, he felt he had no option but to drive and collect his child.

When Mr. Scott asked Mr. King to explain why he chose prison time for Edwards, Mr. King said: "I am not giving you any explanation!"

Mr. Scott argued back, his voice rising in the small courtroom: "(But) You gave us an explanation for the sailor's sentence!"

Mr. Scott felt that if the Magistrate would explain to the court the reasons behind his absolute discharge of British Navy sailor Benjamin Thomas Gibson, who possessed an illegal firearm, he should also tell the court the reason he chose to imprison Edwards instead of fining him.

Mr. King was quick to interrupt and said: "I do not have to explain my decisions to you!"

By this time, both men were shouting in the heated exchange.

Mr. King went on to say that Mr. Scott was not showing the court or the position of Magistrate enough respect, to which Mr. Scott replied: "If you wish respect from counsel you must give it, do not lecture me like a child!"

Mr. King stormed out of the courtroom yelling "Take him away and take him over?" only to return a minute later.

He said that if Mr. Scott continued to argue with him he would have no choice but to charge the defence lawyer with contempt of court. Both men calmed down and started dealing with Mr. Scott's next defendant.

After Mr. Scott left Mr. King aloud: "He can't outsmart me! I know what he wants me to say and I am not going to say it."

He then proceeded to write a note to Crown counsel Oonagh Vocrossen, she read it and laughed.

At the end of Magistrates' Court a court Policewoman told Mr. King to "breathe" the next time a similar incident happens.

By then, Edwards had been taken away by Prison officers.