A DISTRICT judge has resigned after he allegedly told a court that a victim of crime “won’t be working anywhere important” because her surname was Patel.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it made an official complaint about Deputy District Judge Richard Terrence Peter Hollingworth after his “inappropriate” comments about the harassment victim at Preston Magistrates’ Court.

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The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office confirmed that Judge Hollingworth had resigned as a district judge while his role as a first tier immigration judge was under review.

He allegedly made the racist remark after the prosecution said 22-year-old Deepa Patel might struggle to attend court at short notice for the sentencing of the defendant in the case, the Sun on Sunday said.

When the stunned prosecutor Rachel Parker asked him to clarify his comments he replied: “With a name like Patel, and her ethnic background, she won’t be working anywhere important.”

Ms Parker said she was “professionally embarrassed” after the incident in October and could no longer work on the case.

A Judicial Conduct Investigations Office spokesman said Judge Hollingworth was “currently refraining from all judicial duties”.

Ms Patel, a law student who lives in Preston, said it was “outrageous” that he had not resigned altogether.

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said it made a complaint after deeming the judge’s comments “inappropriate”.

A statement from the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: “The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) can confirm that Judge Richard Terrence Peter Hollingworth has resigned as a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates Court).

“Any finding of misconduct and recommendation of disciplinary action made to the president will be subsequently handled by the JCIO in accordance with the rules.

“He currently remains a first-tier tribunal judge at the Immigration and asylum chamber; however, he is refraining from all judicial duties.”

Blackburn MPJack Straw, who formally appointed Judge Hollingworth when in Government, said: “I would have formally endorsed the appointment but had no other involvement whatsoever.

“The remarks are wholly inappropriate, I’m not surprised that he’s stepped down as a deputy district judge.”

Mr Straw said there was a “question mark” over the judge’s suitability to continue in his immigration role which needed investigating.