A CROWN court judge from Stroud was stopped by police as he was driving to work today and asked why he was out on the road.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC, who lives in a rural area outside Stroud, was on his way to Gloucester Crown court - where he is the presiding resident judge - when he was one of four motorists pulled in by police.

The Gloucestershire constabulary is making spot checks on motorists to ensure they have a valid reason for being out and about during the coronavirus stay at home lockdown.

Judge Lawrie told his court this morning about his experience and said it was as he drove through the outskirts of Gloucester on his 10 mile commute that he was stopped.

Police officers were asking motorists where they are going and why they are going there and if their journey was necessary, he said.

"I told the young policewoman who I was and showed her my identity card," he stated.

He was then allowed to go on his way and sit in court for the morning to deal with the day's cases.

The court has been working at well below full capacity during this week's lockdown because of concerns about defendants being in the cells in close proximity to each other and in danger of contracting coronavirus.

Lawyers and defendants have been appearing before the judge via video link wherever possible and some cases have been unable to proceed because of the logistical difficulties of maintaining two metre distancing and keeping everyone safe.

Judge Lawrie today announced that he has shut down the cramped 200 year old cellblock beneath the courtrooms on safety grounds - meaning that no defendants can be held there for fear of the virus being passed on.

“I’ve shut the cells down for safety reasons," he announced, adding that the cells are 'very tiny' and should not be operational during the current crisis.

The judge suggested that any defendant, dialling into the court by phone or through Facetime or Skype who receives a prison sentence should hand themselves into the Gloucestershire Police custody HQ at Waterwells, Quedgeley, to be transported to prison.