A 52-year-old woman from Lancashire has been jailed for 56 days for going on holiday whilst sitting on a jury.
(prHWY.com) April 16, 2012 - -, CO -- A 52-year-old woman from Lancashire has been jailed for 56 days for going on holiday whilst sitting on a jury. Janet Chapman from Blackpool called Preston Crown Court to say that she had back pain and could not attend the trial for a fortnight but she has been found guilty of contempt of court because during the time she jetted off on holiday.
It emerged that the juror, who was a deputy care home manageress, had flown out with her partner to Malta for a week's holiday but she said she thought that obtaining a seven-day sick note from the doctors for sciatica meant she would automatically not have to attend the trial because she was unfit.
Recorder of Preston Judge Anthony Russell QC said: "I am satisfied that if you really suffered back pain of such severity that you could not continue your jury service you would not have been able to endure the travel to Malta."
He added: "I am driven to the conclusion that you pretended to your doctor that you had a back problem in order that you could take a holiday in Malta."
The defendant had listened to three weeks of evidence in a robbery trial at Preston Crown Court but failed to be present at the start of the scheduled four-week hearing.
All potential members of the jury were asked before the case started whether there were any reasons why they could not serve the set period of time; and Ms Chapman said there was none.
Her absence from the proceedings was later explained that the trip was a surprise birthday present but the trial had been delayed for two days whilst inquiries were made with concern for her welfare which resulted in significant wasted costs and considerable inconvenience.
Sciatica is pain within the pathway and distribution of the sciatic nerve and is formed from the spine at the junction of the lumbar and sacral regions. It passes from the spine into the pelvis, into the buttock, back of the thigh and down below the knee and most patients desire relief from the pain when they have severe sciatica.
Relief can be achieved using a number of medications, simple pain killers and anti-inflammatory medications are commonly prescribed; and epidural injections of steroid may also be used. For prolonged periods of time surgical treatment may have a role.
Spinalsurgeon.com can help people with the condition by offering advice and expert information such as common symptoms and treatments. And the professionals can help for all spinal problems including back and neck pain as well as Spondylolisthesis and whiplash.
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