EXCLUSIVE: Drama as Judge collapses in courtroom as cases get underway

AN AMBULANCE crew rushed to a court after a judge collapsed just as his cases were about to get underway.

COLLAPSE: Mr Ikram was taken ill during court (University of Wolverhampton)

Tan Ikram, the Deputy Chief Magistrate of Westminster Magistrates' Court, was preparing the order of extradition hearings for the day this morning when he was taken ill.

In dramatic scenes, court staff cleared everyone from the courtroom and locked the doors, while they waited for paramedics to arrive.

An ambulance crew on blue lights turned up outside the court within minutes where a member of court staff was waiting to meet them.

They then went to treat the 55-year-old in the courtroom.

It is not known what led to the collapse or if he was taken to hospital.

Mr Ikram had appeared in good spirits before his collapse, joking about lawyers not being ready for any of their cases, and saying he was particularly looking forward to dealing with a non-extradition case concerning the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry of Justice referred our enquiry to the court, which did not respond to questions about what happened to the cases he was due to hear that day.

All other images Jon Austin.