THE Honorary Recorder of Burnley is preparing to step down - and his retirement will mark the end of an era as the town loses its "own" judge. Judge Raymond Bennett is leaving the legal profession after almost half a century and will be Burnley's last full-time resident judge. He spoke to WENDY BARLOW about his 43-year career

JUDGE Raymond Bennett will sit for the last time at Burnley Crown Court in less than two weeks after a career in law which has spanned 43 years.

And the 65-year-old, who says he is looking forward to spending more time on his hobbies of golf, tennis, gardening and holidays, says he has seen plenty of changes over the years, including an increase in drink-fuelled and drug-related crime.

Born in Clayton-le-Moors, where his father was curate of All Saints Church, Judge Bennett was educated at Glasgow Academy and Bury Grammar School, before graduating from Manchester University. He first became a solicitor, practising at the then Backhouse, Dunkerley and Isherwood firm in Blackburn, where he was a partner for three years. The firm later became Forbes Solicitors - where the judge's son John, 37, is now a partner.

After being called to the Middle Temple of the Bar in 1972, the Judge Bennett became a Recorder in 1984 and a judge five years later. He was appointed Honorary Recorder of Burnley in 1997, succeeding the late Judge Ian Webster.

The 65-year-old, who lives in the Ribble Valley with his wife Elaine, also has a daughter, Jane, 35, who runs a language school in Australia. His brother Richard is a well-known barrister, based in Winckley Square, Preston. Judge and Mrs Bennett have two grandchildren, John's daughters, Eve, six and Anna, four.

Judge Bennett said he had "mixed feelings" about retiring as he had enjoyed every job he had done. He said that although it is perceived that crime is now much worse than it was, he believes that it is simply that more crime is reported than it used to be.

And on the question of convictions and acquittals, the judge said: "In 40 years I cannot think of a single conviction I have had any doubts about, but there have been a number of acquittals which have been surprising, particularly in cases involving the sexual abuse of children.

"The Press rightly criticise those very few cases in which it is thought there has been a wrongful conviction, but dare not raise questions about cases where an acquittal has been surprising for fear of libelling the person who has been cleared. The public does not get a balanced view of how the criminal justice system works."

Judge Bennett told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph there were more cases involving sexual allegations before the courts today and the reason for that was that before 1993 there had to be corroboration of the complainant's evidence. Now cases are now being brought to court on the word of the alleged victim alone.

The judge said he suspected child sex abuse had gone on since "time immemorial", but youngsters now know they can complain to the police. But, he continued: "What can be even more damaging is the child going through the trauma of going to court and then finding he or she has not been believed."

The judge also spoke of his concern over the increase in drug-related crime and added that when he started out as a solicitor, illicit substances were not heard of. When the Misuse of Drugs Act brought the problem to the notice of the public, prosecutions started, he said.

He continued: "The battle against drugs has not succeeded with the legislation in place, because where there are drug takers there will always be suppliers. If we are to eradicate the drugs problem, we have to tackle those who take drugs. But those who have never been addicted cannot understand the difficulties of giving up the addiction."

The judge told the LET acts of violence were probably the most prevalent offences the courts had to deal with. He said there had always been "a strong element of violence" in this country, increasingly so with more drinking on Friday and Saturday nights.

But he added the chances of an innocent person walking on the streets being attacked was remote. He went on: "Violence occurs in two places. One, sadly, is in the home, the other is in and around pubs on Friday and Saturday night and is fuelled by too much drink."

Judge Bennett's last day as Honorary Recorder of Burnley will be on July 23. He is due to be thanked for his services to the town in a ceremony at the town hall.

The town's Crown Court is now set to become a satellite of Preston Crown Court and Judge Peter Openshaw, QC, Honorary Recorder of Preston, will be at the helm of both.