THE image of out-of-touch, aloof and stuffy judges is something Swindon judge John McNaught is keen to dispel.

But, at a recent meeting of the Swindon Race Coalition, he admitted that there is much work to be done.

Representatives of ethnic and minority groups in the town grilled Judge McNaught, 61, for more than two hours at the Broadgreen Community Centre.

And Mr McNaught said he could only apologise for the way Swindon Crown Court has treated disabled and ethnic groups.

At present there is no infrastructure to accommodate wheelchair jurors at the court.

He said: "We have not got good disabled facilities and I am embarrassed by it.

"We have some real practical difficulties with the court building, but it is something we are trying to address."

Mr McNaught, who lives in Lechlade, was quizzed about the lack of black representatives sitting as judges and on juries.

And he was also grilled as to why profoundly deaf people could not sit on juries with an interpreter.

"I am also embarrassed by that, but it's a fact of life," he said.

"Juries consist of 12 people so to have an interpreter in the jury room would not be seen to be right.

"Judges are public servants and it is sad that the public don't know about the work we do. Part of my job is to get our work better known.

"I have been to schools to speak to students and it is important for me to sit in different forums to allow the public to put questions they wouldn't necessarily get the chance to ask.

"There is a great gulf between me sitting in court as the judge and some of the jurors and defendants, but I have children and hope I have learned from them.

"As I grow older I get more out of touch, which is why to hear people's views keeps my feet on the ground."

Representatives of Swindon Combined Court explained how Swindon's courts worked and members of Victim Support told of their role before members of the coalition watched a video on jury service.

Phil Rashid, chairman of the Swindon Race Coalition, said: "Fair play to the judge for coming to speak to us. It's important for disabled people, members of black and ethnic groups and people of all sexual persuasions in Swindon to know that they have a voice that's what the coalition is all about.

"Swindon has a great opportunity with its cultural diversity to show the rest of the county where it is going.

"I used to live in London and got used to walking down the street and getting called racist names that hasn't happened to me in Swindon because it's an accepting society."

The coalition also wanted to know why so few minorities are represented at court.

Of the 120 magistrates currently sitting on the Swindon bench, 114 are classed as white, four are Indian, one is Bangladeshi and one is black Caribbean.

Racial equality campaigner Karen Attwood, 46, of Rodbourne, added: "It was an excellent evening, Mr McNaught was interesting, clear and concise.

"A few years ago this would never have happened, but it is clear to see there is way to go yet."