John Hennigan, 50, as he was being sentenced for breach of an Asbo, told Judge Patricia Lynch that she was a “bit of a c**t”.

But she immediately responded: “You are a bit of a c**t yourself.”

The profane back-and-forth continued when Hennigan told her to “go f**k yourself” and Judge Lynch politely replied: “You too.”

Hennigan breached his Asbo by making racist remarks to a Caribbean woman and her two children, his ninth breach of the order.

He was eventually taken away from the dock at Chelmsford Crown Court after banging on the glass, making a Nazi salute and shouting “sieg heil”.

As Judge Lynch watched the far-right farce unfold, she dryly said: “We are all very impressed. Take him down.”