Daily Mail

Teed off! Juror caught reading golf magazine

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A JUROR was threatened with jail after he was caught flicking through a golf magazine during a robbery trial.

David Barron, 60, ended up in the dock himself when another juror saw him reading Golf Monthly instead of concentrat­ing on the evidence.

Barron, who hid the magazine in his jury folder, was perusing a page on bargain golf clubs. When confronted by the usher, he is believed to have said he found the trial ‘boring’ and even asked for his magazine back after being dismissed from the jury.

Barron was charged with contempt of court and faced his own hearing at Southampto­n Crown Court. Judge Peter Henry told him: ‘Another juror could clearly see something going on and drew that to the attention of the usher.

‘Once that had been brought to my attention, I immediatel­y asked the jury to leave the court... it appears you had a conversati­on with the usher.’

Barron, from Southampto­n, pleaded guilty, saying: ‘I am ashamed, and I am very sorry for my actions. It was very disrespect­ful.’ He was said to have told the usher he ‘could not be bothered’ with the trial. He was fined £150 and told he would spend a day in prison if it was not paid within 28 days.

Judge Henry said: ‘I hope you do feel ashamed by what you have done and that you will reflect.’

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