slimvictor
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A juror in a rape trial who smoked a cannabis joint in his lunch hour, yards from the court, has been fined £450.
Shezad Hussain, 26, who was spotted by a juror on another case at Bolton Crown Court, admitted contempt of court.
Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC said Hussain had brought shame on his family.
Ben Lawrence, who represented Hussain, said his client was stressed after a violent attack on his family-owned shop by "gangsters".
The father-of-one from Hamel Street, Bolton, was one of 12 jurors on a week-long case of a man accused of raping a child and was spotted smoking the joint last Friday by the other juror, who retrieved the used butt from the pavement to hand to police.
'Stress relief'
Hussain at first denied the offence until he was warned by PC Michael Bailey that the butt could be examined for his DNA.
The trial judge had to adjourn the case while the police investigated and legal discussions took place with Hussain dismissed from the jury on Monday and charged with contempt of court
Hussain, who works in a cash and carry shop as well as his family's corner shop, was fined £450 - two weeks' wages.
Mr Lawrence said his client was "no more than an occasional user of cannabis".
"He uses it probably unwisely to deal with times of stress," he said.
(...)
Mr Clarke QC told Hussain: "You have embarrassed yourself and brought shame on yourself."
cont at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18119145
Shezad Hussain, 26, who was spotted by a juror on another case at Bolton Crown Court, admitted contempt of court.
Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC said Hussain had brought shame on his family.
Ben Lawrence, who represented Hussain, said his client was stressed after a violent attack on his family-owned shop by "gangsters".
The father-of-one from Hamel Street, Bolton, was one of 12 jurors on a week-long case of a man accused of raping a child and was spotted smoking the joint last Friday by the other juror, who retrieved the used butt from the pavement to hand to police.
'Stress relief'
Hussain at first denied the offence until he was warned by PC Michael Bailey that the butt could be examined for his DNA.
The trial judge had to adjourn the case while the police investigated and legal discussions took place with Hussain dismissed from the jury on Monday and charged with contempt of court
Hussain, who works in a cash and carry shop as well as his family's corner shop, was fined £450 - two weeks' wages.
Mr Lawrence said his client was "no more than an occasional user of cannabis".
"He uses it probably unwisely to deal with times of stress," he said.
(...)
Mr Clarke QC told Hussain: "You have embarrassed yourself and brought shame on yourself."
cont at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18119145
