Judge tells Chinese defendant to learn English

A judge has been criticised for telling a Chinese defendant to learn English. Judge Julian Hall made the remark as he sentenced Wei Cai, a businesswoman, for ramming her husband's car through a fence off a busy street.

The Chinese national had angered the Judge after needing an interpreter to admit to charges of dangerous driving and causing damage to property.

He told the courtroom: "I shouldn't say this, but I will. I would spend the next 12 months learning English. It would make life a lot easier."



His remarks have sparked outcry from the local Chinese community in Oxford.

One community leader, who did not want to be named, said: "Dangerous driving is dangerous driving. Learning English is learning English, they are two separate things.

"There is no relationship between the two, it is illogical for him to say that and I think it could be offensive."