PUPILS at Hatherop Primary School have been celebrating after seeing off tough competition from seven other schools in the area to be crowned winners of the 2014 Cirencester Mock Trials.

Not only did the school pick up the overall winners award but two of its pupils, Emilie Welstead and Tom Mundy, were singled out for their role as court reporter and court artist respectively.

Judge David Hicks Beach, an actual magistrate, told the Standard that the children gave a performance worth of a real courtroom.

“Their team of magistrates argued their case just like real magistrates do. They all did a really amazing job,” he said.

“It wasn’t just down to a few individuals, the whole Hatherop team was brilliant. For them to win all three categories is a fantastic achievement.”

The annual Cirencester mock trials concluded last month with Year 6 children from all over the town and surrounding villages stepping in to the various roles of the judicial process.

Now in its ninth consecutive year, the mock trials saw pupils take over the Bingham Gallery and battle their case as either prosecutors or defendants.

This year’s trial saw all pupils deal with fictional Cirencester teenager Darcy Grainer in the dock accused with the theft of an iPad mini from her close friend Robin Burrows.

The proceedings, which proved hugely popular with mums and dads, were made even more authentic by the presence of real magistrates and police officers from Cirencester Police Station.

Samuel Bartholomew, head teacher at Hatherop Primary School, said: “I’m really proud to be the head of this school. The children rose to the challenge and they all worked really hard.”

The other schools taking part in this year’s competition were Cold Aston, Powell’s, Watermoor, Coberley, Southrop, Stratton and Chesterton.