A HIGH Court judge has apologised for his handling of a contempt of court allegation against a Palestine Action barrister, telling a hearing he was wrong.

Mr Justice Johnson made the admission at the Old Bailey today, after the Court of Appeal ruled last month that he had wrongly sent the contempt allegation against Rajiv Menon KC directly to the High Court, rather than referring it to the Attorney General or dealing with it at the Crown Court.

“I was wrong to do that and I’m sorry about that, of course,” the judge said. “I’m sorry it has meant this will now take longer than it would have done.”

The contempt allegation arose from Mr Menon’s closing speech while representing Charlotte Head, an activist found guilty of criminal damage at the Bristol factory of Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems.

Head and co-defendants Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio and Fatema Rajwani were convicted following a raid on August 6 2024, in which an old prison van was used to smash into the property and sledgehammers and crowbars caused an estimated £1 million of damage in an attempt to stop the genocide in Gaza.

Mr Corner was also convicted of grievous bodily harm after fracturing a police officer’s spine.

Ms Head’s lawyers accused the judge of an “unnecessary punitive response” and of giving the impression of bias against Mr Menon and his client.

The judge rejected an application to recuse himself from sentencing, ruling there was no “real possibility of bias.”

The four activists remain in custody ahead of sentencing on June 12.

The judge may apply a terrorism connection at sentencing following the proscription of Palestine Action, despite the ban being ruled unlawful, which could result in significantly tougher jail terms.