Manama: An Australian man was jailed for addressing a magistrate as 'mate'.
Thomas John Collins was sent to the cells after twice calling Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin, in Ipswich, Queensland, "mate'' during a hearing, Courier Mail reported.
When Magistrate McLaughlin objected and ordered Collins to address him as "sir or your honour", the defendant replied "okay mate" and was sent for a stint in the cells.
He later returned to the courtroom to apologise.
However, for Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully, the pomposity of some magistrates had gone too far.
"It is getting out of control," he said.
He said the incident followed another in Toowoomba, where a magistrate hauled two tradesmen before the court for making too much noise, and threatened to charge them with contempt.
He said there was nothing "more Australian than calling someone mate" and it was hard to believe someone could be locked up for using the word.
"I say to every magistrate - Come on mate, get off your high horse and show some tolerance," he said, quoted by the paper.
Queensland Chief Magistrate Judge Brendan Butler should introduce annual anger management classes for all Queensland magistrates, Tully said.
