The most senior judge at Exeter Crown Court has died after spending months battling a serious illness.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer, who held the title of Recorder of the City of Exeter, presided over many of the most high profile trials in the West Country during the two years in which he was the resident judge.

The 65-year-old, who died on Sunday, has been off work since March, and was known to be seriously ill.

He had been the resident judge in Exeter for two years, during which time he dealt with cases including homicide, robbery and drug related violence from Devon, Somerset and Cornwall.

He was responsible for sentences totalling more than 60 years on three members of a gang known as the Chyna Crew who used rape and extreme violence to try to take over the Exeter drugs scene.

He presided over a two-week trial at Exeter last August which resulted in the leaders of the gang being found guilty of raping a woman who worked for a rival gang and attacking one of their homes with a shotgun.

He also passed sentence in a bizarre manslaughter case from Newlyn in which David Burgess unwittingly killed his neighbour by sabotaging the outlet of his heating system with a potato.

It led to fumes building up and killing Michael Horner at his home in Gwavas Road. Burgess was jailed for two years and eight months.

Judge Mercer also sentenced Dominic Lacey, who admitted the manslaughter of heroin dealer Joe Pearce in a drug related stabbing in Weston-super-Mare. He received an eight year, nine month sentence.

Although Judge Mercer was capable of handing down severe sentences in serious cases of violence, he was better known for his commitment to rehabilitating young criminals.

He was reluctant to send them straight to jail, especially if they did not have previous convictions and if the probation service could offer a constructive alternative.

His leniency attracted criticism in some cases, most notably that of drug driver Laura Ward, who was spared jail and given a 20-month suspended sentence for causing the death of 20-year-old Barnstaple motorcyclist Aidan Platt.

Ward, from Hampshire, admitted causing death by careless driving while under the influence of cannabis, amphetamines and diazepam.

Judge Mercer had sat as a recorder or circuit judge at Truro, Plymouth and Taunton for 18 years before being appointed as resident judge in Exeter.

He had previously enjoyed a successful career as a barrister in the region, starting in 1975 and becoming a Queens Counsel in 1987.

Tributes are expected to be paid to Judge Mercer by fellow judges at Exeter Crown Court later this week.

His death was announced in a joint statement from Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, and the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable David Gauke MP, who said they were were saddened to learn of his death.