A LIVERPOOL judge who launched a tirade against the Government’s immigration policy was reprimanded yesterday.

The Office for Judicial Complaints (OJC) said His Honour Judge Ian Trigger had received “formal advice” from the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, about his “inappropriate judicial intervention” into politics.

The OJC launched an investigation after Judge Trigger made the comments while sentencing Jamaican drug minder Lucien McClearley, in July, 2009.

McClearley, who was 31 at the time, was jailed for two years by Judge Trigger for drugs offences.

He was arrested on Parr Street after police noticed his rented Vauxhall Vectra smelled of cannabis. They found bags of the drug in the car and more at a house he was staying in. He also had a faked passport and driving licence.

McClearley, of Stamford Street, Edge Hill, had arrived in the UK in November, 2001, on a visitor’s visa, but was arrested in October, 2002, after overstaying. He then went underground after an application for asylum was rejected.

Judge Trigger told him: “Your case illustrates all too clearly that completely lax immigration policy which exists and has existed over recent years in this country.

“People like you come to these shores from foreign countries to avail themselves of the generous welfare benefits which exist here.