A Supreme Court judge has stood down after more than 20 years on the Bermuda bench.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves concluded his last case and confirmed his retirement at the sentencing of Parnell Brangman for child sex offences on Monday.

Mr Justice Carlisle said: “I retire today.”

Chief Justice Narinder Hargun, praised Mr Justice Greaves for his service in Bermuda’s courts. He said: “We are grateful to Justice Greaves for his long and exemplary judicial service, first as the Acting Senior Magistrate and then as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

“He will be remembered for his particular expertise in dealing effectively with serious criminal matters and for his outstanding contribution in eliminating the serious backlog of criminal cases during his tenure.”

John Rankin, the Governor, also thanked Mr Justice Greaves for his contributions to the justice system. He said: “I would particularly pay tribute to his role in presiding over criminal cases in the Supreme Court, as well as his earlier work as a magistrate in the Family Court.

“I offer Mr Justice Greaves every best wish as he returns to his native Barbados.”

Mr Justice Greaves started his career in Barbados and worked as a prosecutor before he became a criminal court magistrate in 1992.

He took a position as magistrate in Bermuda in 1998 and first sat in the Family Courts. It was reported in 2000 that child support collection had “dramatically increased” under his administration, with more than $7 million in payments collected.

Mr Justice Greaves moved to Magistrates’ Court in 2001 and surprised lawyers when he demanded bail from defendants accused of traffic offences.

He said at the time: “Somebody has to get serious about the manner in which these courts are run. Some mornings, I cannot start a single trial because people are missing. And they expect to be bailed when you see them next time.”

Mr Justice Greaves was appointed a puisne judge in 2005 after a three-month trial period in the higher court.

Sir John Vereker, the Governor at the time, said Mr Justice Greaves was a “very convincing candidate” for the post, given his record of improving efficiency in the Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Justice Greaves said after he was appointed, he intended to tackle a backlog of Supreme Court cases. He added that he would have to tread more carefully to avoid appeals.

Mr Justice Greaves said: “From that perspective it will be different but I am comfortable with it.”

However he remained an outspoken figure throughout his tenure in the Supreme Court.

Mr Justice Greaves highlighted the need for a mental health court and asked for a broader range of sentencing options in serious cases.

He announced his intention in 2015 to stand down by October that year, but was reappointed on a part-time basis. Mr Justice Greaves could not be contacted for comment yesterday. He will be replaced in Supreme Court by Larry Mussenden, the Director of Public Prosecutions.

It has not been revealed who will take Mr Mussenden’s place in the prosecutions service.