Juror fined for smoking cannabis

A JUROR who smoked a cannabis joint just yards from the entrance to Bolton Crown Court while on a lunch break from a trial has been fined £450.

Shezad Hussain, aged 26, yesterday admitted being in contempt of court, claiming that his behaviour had been due to the stress of a recent robbery at the corner shop run by his family.

Hussain was serving on a jury in Bolton on Friday last week and had been due to listen to Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC sum up the evi- dence in a rape case.

But during a lunch break, he was spotted smoking the illegal drug outside the Blackhorse Street building by a juror on another trial.

She informed the court authorities and Hussain was questioned by PC based at the court. Hussain initially denied the offence but changed his mind after he was told police could take his DNA from the ciga- rette stub they found in the street.

The trial was delayed while Recorder Clarke decided what to do, eventu- ally opting on Monday to dismiss Hussain from the jury.

Ben Lawrence, defending Hussain at his contempt of court hearing at Manches- ter Crown Court yesterday, told Recorder Clarke he was remorseful for his actions, but stressed that he had not smoked cannabis at any other point during the trial or brought any into the court building.

"It was an opportunist occasion in that a friend of his was passing by and smoking cannabis and offered it to him. He unwise- ly took some," said Mr Lawrence.

He added that Hussain has been under stress recently following a violent attempt- ed robbery at the shop in Hamel Street, Great Lever, where he lives with his wife, two-year-old child and two younger sisters.

Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the inci- dent.

Mr Lawrence said Hus- sain's abilities to serve on a jury had not been affected by the small amount of drug he had taken.

"He believes he would have been able to continue on that jury," he said, adding that the cash-and- carry worker was "deeply apologetic".

Recorder Clarke said he accepted Hussain's account of how he came to take the cannabis, but stressed that the court system demands that jurors should be free from the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"I accept you have embar- rassed yourself and brought shame on yourself."

Hussain was fined £450 and warned that he faces 14 days in jail if he does not pay.

The jury continued the rape trial of Rochdale man Lee Mohan but were unable to reach a verdict.

A retrial will take place in November.

http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk 19/05/2012