Juror in the dock after he overslept and delayed trial

A JUROR was fined £100 after he overslept by eight hours and delayed the start of a trial.

Robert Mace, 36, told a judge that he had slept in but could not explain why. The trial of a man accused of shaking a baby was due to start at Hull Crown Court on June 21 but Mace caused the case to be put on hold for a day.

After the trial ended, Mace found himself in the dock and admitted contempt of court.

Judge Jeremy Richardson, QC, told him he was guilty of “sleeping in, the like of which I have never, in 37 years’ experience as a lawyer, heard before”.