A judge paid a moving tribute to a court reporter whose “integrity and reporting were beyond reproach”.

Freelancer Richard Harrison, who has died aged 63, contributed to newspapers across the South West covering cases which went before Exeter Crown Court.

Judge Stephen Wildblood QC and Judge David Tyzack QC joined solicitors, security guards, court clerks, ushers and representatives from the Crown Prosecution Service and witness care unit to hear a tribute from Judge John Neligan on Tuesday.

He said he had know Richard since the mid-1970s when he had first started practising at the bar.

“He was, if I may say so, gifted with a great sense of cynical good humour,” said Judge Neligan.

“His usual mantra was that lawyers, and in particular judges, were overpaid and underworked.

“I should say on a more serious note that the relationship between the judiciary, law and press is a very important one.

“The judiciary rely on the integrity of the press to report cases and in particular the judge’s remarks fairly and faithfully…..Richard Harrison was a reporter whose reporting was always accurate, always fair and always faithful to the facts.

“His epitaph should perhaps be he was a press reporter whose integrity and reporting were beyond reproach.

“We shall miss him very greatly. It was a sadness to see him become very ill.

“Our heartfelt sympathies are passed to his family and in particular, his wife at this very sad time.”

Prosecutor Jonathan Barnes added: “I have known Richard for many years.

“He was more than a reporter, he was to a lot of us who practice here, a friend. He was a scrupulous, fair and accurate reporter.

“On behalf of the legal bar, may I associate ourselves with what you said and express our condolences to his widow Julia and his family.”

Richard died on Monday and had been suffering from a liver illness. Details of his funeral are yet to be arranged.