A man convicted for racially abusing a black mother of two told a crown court judge she was "A bit of a cunt" at his sentencing on Wednesday.
But he may not have expected Judge Patricia Lynch's response: She replied immediately, saying: "You're a bit of a cunt yourself."
John Hennigan, 50, was being sentenced to 18 months in prison for breaching the terms of his antisocial behaviour order (ASBO), which prohibits him from using racist language in public.
Chelmsford crown court heard that during an incident in his hometown of Harlow, Essex, he told Tanisha Ford, who is black: "I don't agree with interracial relationships, I like natural." He later said to her: "I prefer white children."
Sentencing Hennigan, the judge said: "Your offence is thoroughly unpleasant and repeated breaches of this order using the most unpleasant of language and causing distress," the Mirror reported.
"It's said custody would be distressing for you but it seems you never learn. This is the ninth time you have breached this order, the same offensive, racist comments and you don't deserve another chance."
The court heard he has 23 convictions for 47 different offences, many relating to racist incidents, as well as firearms possession and common assault.
In October 2012 he was seen performing a Nazi salute and racially abusing black people.
After the sentence was handed down Hennigan also told the judge to "go fuck yourself", to which she replied: "You too."
According to reporters in court, Hennigan then began to bang the glass that divides the dock where defendants sit from the rest of the courtroom, before performing a Nazi salute and shouting "Sieg heil" and singing about Jews being gassed.
Judge Lynch is said to have kept her composure and said: "We are all really impressed. Take him down."