STUDENTS from Cleobury Mortimer were runners-up for the second year in a row in a magistrates’ court mock trial competition.

Lacon Childe School took second prize after a “tense” day of competition at Worcester Magistrates’ Court, which saw more than 200 pupils from 15 schools work on a specially written case involving an ex-soldier accused of assault.

It means the school has qualified from the Worcestershire heat to take part in the Midlands regional mock trials competition in May and, if successful there, a national final in June.

Louise Britton, an English teacher who took the group of pupils to the court, said: “It was a very tense, very nerveracking day.

“I was impressed with the challenge from other schools but we were outstanding. We did not crumble under the pressure – it was very impressive.

We got the verdicts we wanted, which means the lawyers did their jobs well and we were thrilled to get runners-up.”

Students took the parts of magistrates, prosecution and defence lawyers, defendant, witnesses and court officials and their performances were judged by magistrates and legal professionals.

The overall winners were Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College, from Worcester.

This year’s case saw the defendant, an ex-soldier, accused of assault following a pub crawl that had turned violent.

Mrs Britton said the experience had made some of her pupils think about a career in law.

“Some of them wanted to take part in this because they want that career,” she added. “Some were just good, confident speakers but starting thinking to themselves ‘I would not mind doing this’.”

Youngsters from the Bewdley School and Sixth Form Centre also took part in the Worcestershire heats.