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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Juror Matthew Banks says false illness 'was stupid' | Juror Matthew Banks says false illness 'was stupid' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A juror who was detained after he pretended to be sick so that he could go to a West End musical has said it was a "very stupid thing to do". | A juror who was detained after he pretended to be sick so that he could go to a West End musical has said it was a "very stupid thing to do". |
| Matthew Banks, 19, from Staffordshire, was sentenced to 14 days in a young offenders institution after a judge found him to be in contempt of court. | Matthew Banks, 19, from Staffordshire, was sentenced to 14 days in a young offenders institution after a judge found him to be in contempt of court. |
| He went to see Chicago in London despite telling court staff he was ill. | He went to see Chicago in London despite telling court staff he was ill. |
| After being freed on Friday five days into the sentence, the student said: "I thought I would just get a fine." | After being freed on Friday five days into the sentence, the student said: "I thought I would just get a fine." |
| The trial at Manchester Crown Court was halted for a day as other jurors were sent home because of Banks' absence. | The trial at Manchester Crown Court was halted for a day as other jurors were sent home because of Banks' absence. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire, Banks, from Rugeley, said: "It was a very stupid thing to do - I genuinely did not believe I would put off the trial. | |
| "I had already served two weeks and I was on my last day of jury service." | "I had already served two weeks and I was on my last day of jury service." |
| Gift ticket | Gift ticket |
| Banks, who is studying French at Manchester University, said he had been given a ticket for the musical as a gift, adding: "There was a lot of people I didn't want to let down." | |
| He added: "Many of my fellow jurors had spoken about a case they had been on where the juror had had to leave and it carried on with 11 so I thought that by calling in sick it would carry on without me. | He added: "Many of my fellow jurors had spoken about a case they had been on where the juror had had to leave and it carried on with 11 so I thought that by calling in sick it would carry on without me. |
| "I didn't think it would cause such a disturbance as it did. | "I didn't think it would cause such a disturbance as it did. |
| "I didn't enjoy the day, especially when I heard that the case had to be postponed." | "I didn't enjoy the day, especially when I heard that the case had to be postponed." |
| Banks' lie was uncovered when an employee from the court phoned his home and was told by his partner that he was in London. | Banks' lie was uncovered when an employee from the court phoned his home and was told by his partner that he was in London. |
| Sentencing him on Monday, Judge Martin Rudland said lying to court officials for such a frivolous reason was a serious offence. | Sentencing him on Monday, Judge Martin Rudland said lying to court officials for such a frivolous reason was a serious offence. |
| A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said offenders serving a 14-day sentence were released after seven days and this could be brought forward if the release date fell on a weekend or bank holiday. | A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said offenders serving a 14-day sentence were released after seven days and this could be brought forward if the release date fell on a weekend or bank holiday. |
| The week-long trial, which Banks had been sitting on, later continued in his absence with the remaining 11 jurors reaching a verdict, Judicial Communications Office officials said. | The week-long trial, which Banks had been sitting on, later continued in his absence with the remaining 11 jurors reaching a verdict, Judicial Communications Office officials said. |