ONE of Wirral's best known and respected judges - Michael Abelson - has retired from the Bench after a 40-year career.

Colleagues and friends gathered at Wirral Magistrates Court to wish District Judge Abelson well and pay tribute to his wholly unique and unorthodox style.

In a laughter-filled ceremony he was described as "the inventor of speedy summary justice" which enabled cases before him to be dealt with swiftly but always fairly and with the right outcome achieved.

A raft of humorous anecdotes from his 40 years were related in the crowded courtroom as well as tributes to his many attributes including his "generosity with his time, talent and wisdom" and his skill in training deputy district judges.

Last year he even trained magistrates in Gibraltar.

District Judge Miriam Shelby, who has worked alongside him for 13 years, said that Michael, who was born in London, had had a distinguished career at the Bar in Liverpool before being appointed as an Acting Stipendiary Magistrate in 1993.

He became a full-time 'Stipe' five years later sitting in Manchester and three years later transferred in that role to Liverpool and latterly sitting at Wirral as a District Judge.

DJ Abelson, 65, said that strangely the very courtroom he was sitting in on his last day had actually been a crown court where he appeared when first starting his career at the Bar.

He said: "It has been a wonderful career.

"I have been deeply moved by the sentiments expressed by so many people.

"It has been overwhelming".

Geoff Fryar, head of the local CPS crown court team, said: "He has been a central feature in Merseyside's criminal justice system for many many years.

"His professional and efficient approach has always been achieved with a great deal of humour.”

He said that his colleagues, past and present, have always held him in high regard and he has always been extremely popular, adding "His departure will be a sad loss to everybody".

Lawyer Chris Murphy paid tributes on behalf of local solicitors pointing out that Mike "had a certain unique manner in dealing with the job. Sometimes unorthodox but always spot on".