Seventeen new magistrates have been sworn-in at a ceremony at Ipswich Crown Court.

The ceremony was attended by Ipswich Crown Court's resident judge Martyn Levett, Diana Hunt, Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk, Jill Stuchfield, Chair of the Bench and Mark Pendlington, High Sheriff of Suffolk.

The new magistrates are: Jane Sharpe, Jane Reed, Hollie Royal, Graham Turner, Jane Waterston, Katherine Simpson-Jacobs, Neil de Cort, Ian Carr, Carl Poole, John Crumpton Cooper, Valerie Lane, Benjamin Harvey, Julie Cloke, Matthew Watkins, Joanne Curry, David Patterson and Lydia Finney.

READ MORE: Eleven new magistrates sworn-in at ceremony in Ipswich

Prior to taking their affirmations, Judge Levett congratulated the new magistrates for being selected for appointment to 'the oldest and most respected judicial office in the face of strong competition'.

He spoke about the history of Ipswich as the earliest post-Roman urban settlement in England, as well as being the birthplace of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who became Lord High Chancellor to then King Henry VIII in the 16th century and helped to reform the legal system.

In particular, Cardinal Wolsey set out a new law enforcement plan, which aimed to provide impartial justice in the ordinary courts of common law irrespective of a litigant's social status, aiming to ensure that the people should have justice as a right.

READ MORE: Ipswich news

Judge Levett also spoke about the changes that had taken place since then and the effects of being held to account by the media, as well as the impact of social media.

He said: "Congratulations to each of you on being being sworn in to serve as Justices of the Peace and to sit as members of the Ipswich and Suffolk Magistrates Court Bench.

"Each of you has been selected for appointment to the oldest and most respected judicial office in the face of strong competition because of the skills which you possess in the various backgrounds from which you are drawn and because of a proven willingness and ability to work in and for your community."

The chair of the bench welcomed the magistrates to the 'judicial family' and emphasised that they will be judged on their behaviour, while advising them to be careful about what they said on social media.

READ MORE: Suffolk news