THE gavel banged for the last time on Friday as sentence was passed on the historic Tavistock court.

It was the last time in more than 100 years that West Devon magistrates would sit in judgment of local, alleged, malefactors, before all cases are moved to Plymouth in what is seen as a dubious bid to save money.

The future of the court still hangs in the balance pending the outcome of an appeal to the Lord Chancellor against its closure. But whatever happens, the court will pass into the jurisdiction of the new Plymouth and District Bench on January 1.

If the appeal finds in favour of keeping the court open, then it will presumably be business as usual.

But if the decision favours closure, then local magistrates, defendants and witnesses — including the police — will have to make the journey into Plymouth from all over West Devon to see justice done.

Joan Jones, chairing the last court, said: 'This, for us, is a very sad day. As far as we know it will be the last Friday the court will sit. It's very sad and we have had no choice in the matter.'

Ann Jeffries, prosecuting for the last time in Tavistock, spoke of her personal feelings, although the CPS itself is known to favour centralisation.

She said every time the rota came out the first thing everyone did was to see who would get the trip out to Tavistock. There even had to be a draw to see which solicitor would bag the last day.

Mrs Jeffries was poetic about the attractions of the court and full of praise for the compassion of the magistrates, their knowledge of the area, the people and often their situations.

'The bench hardly needs a social enquiry report,' she said. 'I think it is sad we will lose that. We are extremely sad this day has come about.'

She said she had already witnessed the closure of four courts in Somerset and seen police relegated to taxi drivers, ferrying people long distances to court.

'Some people see this as progress,' she said.

Local solicitor Peter Sleep said: 'To call the closure of this court a tragedy would be to misuse the word. To describe it as regrettable, unfortunate, short-sighted, a testament to the idiocy of the number-crunching bureaucracy that's driving this, may be nearer the mark.

'It's another poke in the eye for the history and culture of the town in which I was born and have considerable affection. Courts are an indispensable part of the social fabric. This one has served for generations. There's no justifiable reason for closing this court apart from some dubious financial argument.

'It's a poor reward for the clerks, magistrates and their predecessors who have given so much time, voluntarily, to serve.

'I started out here 20 years ago little thinking it wouldn't see me out. I hope it will be back.'

A ruling from the Lord Chancellor's office is expected in the new year.

Jane Honey adds: West Devon magistrate and councillor Ted Sherrell, at last week's meeting of the borough council, was outspoken in his criticism of the justice's chief executive for Devon and Cornwall, Robert Hutley.

Mr Sherrell said he was horrified at the letter written to the borough council by Mr Hutley in response to the authority's concern at the proposed closure of Tavistock's court.

'I think that letter is a total disgrace — it's a statement of complete indifference,' said Mr Sherrell, who felt Mr Hutley was excessively complacent in the face of a decision that would affect so many people in the borough.