Juror fined for perusing golf magazine during trial

A JUROR has been fined after he was caught flicking through a golf magazine when he grew “bored” during a robbery trial, a court heard.

David Barron admitted he “could not be bothered” with proceedings at Southampton Crown Court when he began looking at a copy of Golf Monthly.

Judge Peter Henry told the 60-yearold he should be “ashamed” of his actions after he was discovered red by a court usher.

As a result, the retiree was charged with contempt of court and brought back to Southampton Crown n Court, Hants, for his own hearing.

The court was told he had ad been perusing a page, which featured red “bargain golf clubs for sale”, when n he was spotted, and later asked for the he magazine to be returned to him after r he was dismissed from the jury.

Judge Henry told the court rt that Barron, from the Portswood area of Southampton, had the jury folder der in front of him but was found by the usher to be reading the magazine. ine.

He said: “Another juror could clearly see something going on and drew that to the attention of the usher. You were holding the e jury folder in front of you, but ut the usher discovered you were reading eading a magazine.

“Once that had been brought ought to my attention, I immediately asked the jury to leave the court t and asked you to be separated. And, d, during the course of that separation, tion, it appears you had a conversation on with the usher.”

It was during this exchange that Barron was said to have told the usher sher that he found the trial “boring”, and d “could not be bothered” with proceedings. dings.

Barron, who described himself mself as retired, chose to represent himself mself and admitted to his conduct, saying: ng: “I am ashamed, and I am very sorry y for my actions. I should not have done it. It was very disrespectful.”

Having pleaded guilty, he was ordered to pay a fine of £150 and was told he would spend a day in prison rison if it was not paid within 28 days.