Juror who discussed case jailed
A juror who discussed deliberations with a defendant during a £5 million metal theft trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court has been jailed for four months.
Lorry driver Stephen Pardon, aged 42, was jailed at the High Court after his discussions led to three of those on trial appealing against their convictions. The 13-week trial, involving two counts of conspiracy to steal, began on September 19 last year.
On December 16 the jury returned a majority verdict on the second conspiracy count, convicting three of the four alleged conspirators. Deliberations on the first count were to continue, but the next day the juror visited the workplace of Ian Lewis, of Oldbury-based Lewis Bailing Services, one of the men convicted on the second count.
He "made a number of disclosures including disclosing the reasons for the verdict and the material that the jury had considered".
The defendant then told his lawyers about the disclosures. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the first remaining charge, and the case ended.
Pardon, from Tipton, then went to the work premises of Anthony Geeling, who had also been convicted on the second count. He was asked to leave before he could convey his concerns.
Pardon admitted contempt of court. Mr Jonathan Challinor, for Pardon, told the High Court that Pardon had a number of concerns which led him to act as he did, "in good faith".
Lewis, 46, of Stourbridge, Geeling, 62, of Studley, Warwickshire, and David Fellows, 59, of Blakedown, Worcestershire, have all launched conviction challenges at the Appeal Court.
