Bradford’s newest judge, who was born and educated in the city, told a packed welcoming ceremony he felt he was coming home.

Judge Neil Davey QC was hailed “a very real and true son of this very city” by the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC.

He will sit as both a criminal and civil judge at Bradford Combined Court Centre and heard his first case yesterday.

Judge Davey, 61, was born at the city’s St Luke’s Hospital and educated at Bradford Grammar School. He was raised in Thornbury and Eccleshill and is the son of an accountant.

After leaving school, Judge Davey worked at a bakery in Gain Lane for a few months before reading Classics at Oxford University.

He was called to the Bar in 1978 and became Queen’s Counsel in 2001. He was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1999 and a Recorder in 2000.

Judge Davey was head of 39 Park Square chambers in Leeds before his appointment to the North Eastern Circuit, based at Bradford Combined Court Centre.

He lives in West Yorkshire with his wife, Bev.

Welcoming Judge Davey to his new role, Judge Thomas said: “The Bradford lad has arrived back in Bradford as a member of the Circuit Bench and to dispense justice in the city in which he has such a long history.”

Judge Davey said he worked in Bradford Combined Court Centre when it first opened.

“It is a beautiful building with a good physical working environment and a super bunch of staff.

“Bradford has always had a reputation for being a really happy court centre,” he said.

“I feel I am back among friends and family.”

Judge Davey’s appointment follows the retirement last week of Judge Shaun Spencer QC.