Judge's fall led to death

Judge Thomas regularly presided at Bristol Crown Court

A judge who was found dead in the hallway of his home, fell down the stairs, an inquest heard.

Peter Thomas suffered multiple injuries in the fall at his five-storey house in Clifton, Bristol on July 17.

Coroner Paul Forrest paid tribute to his 62-year-old former colleague as he recorded a verdict of accidental death at Bristol Coroner's Court.

He said: "We met in 1964 so he was an old chum of mine and a worthy opponent. It's a great sadness.

He was always a great mentor and a good source of encouragement.

Paul Forrest

"He was always a great mentor and a good source of encouragement. He had great generosity and courtesy."

The judge was found by his mother-in-law, Iris Gillard, lying at the foot of the stairs in the hall of his home.

Part of the staircase bannister had been pulled away, the inquest heard.

Mrs Gillard, who lived with her daughter and son-in-law, had seen him at around 11.30pm the night before as she went to bed.

Home Office pathologist Hugh White, who carried out a post-mortem examination at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, found internal and external injuries to his chest and abdomen.

Former solicitor

A statement from his GP said Judge Thomas had suffered a mini-stroke in 1998, had heart disease and these conditions meant he had "particular difficulty walking up the stairs".

The former solicitor and criminal law specialist, born in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, was married to judge Carol Hagen, and was a member of Albion Chambers.

Judge Thomas was in the middle of a drugs trial at Bristol Crown Court which had to be halted as a result of his death.