TEENAGERS got a taste of life in the courtroom at the 25th annual Magistrates’ Association mock trial competition.

Half a dozen schools from Swindon and Wiltshire each sent 15 pupils to the event at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Saturday. The youngsters, aged 13 to 15, played every role, from defendant in the dock to magistrate sitting on the bench.

Their performances were scored by real justices of the peace, with Commonweal School taking the top spot. The Old Town school goes through to the regional final in Newport, south Wales.

Salisbury Crown Court judge, Andrew Barnett, praised the skill of the young would-be lawyers and magistrates: “It’s been very impressive. This event teaches them about the system and it also gives them the experience of the to various roles.”

Royal Wootton Bassett pupil Natasha Jones played the part of an alleged mobile phone thief. The 13-year-old hopes to one day train as a barrister: “Before, I wanted to be a doctor. But now, I’d rather help get criminals off the street - and see how their brains work. I’m interested in how they think.” Samuel Bardi, 14, of St Joseph’s Catholic College, was a magistrate: “I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to boost my confidence.”

Teacher David Storey, head of Year 9 at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, said: “This competition is a really good way for the younger children to experience the legal system. It’s good for them to see the formality of how things work, the respect of the magistrates and the procedure that goes with our legal system. They have to prepare the prosecution and the defence case and I think it’s interesting for them to look at the arguments from both sides.”

Martyn Cook, of the Wiltshire Magistrates’ Association, organised the mock trial.“This is the first time they will have seen the British justice system at work,” he said. “All they’ve had previously is pictures on the television.”

The competition taught basic skills, like teamwork and listening: “For the individuals it’s about working together as a team. And when you see them standing up as a defence lawyer asking questions, they have got to be listening.”

Current magistrates, giving up their Saturday to help oversee the competition, were full of praise for the mock trials.

Swindon magistrate Dr David Whetham said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity. Most people only ever have an interaction with the criminal justice system when something has gone wrong. Either they have become the victim of a crime or they have been accused of a crime.

“This is an opportunity to see how things work. We are incredibly ignorant as a nation about something as integral to how society works. So many people don’t know how things work in a court.”

Fellow magistrate Jan Morgan added of the competition: “It teaches the children about the rule of law and involves them in their local community. It’s also good because it gives them confidence. These children have got to be able to think on their feet.”