[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...ester-16315486

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.

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."

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 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."

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.

Who's a lucky boy, then ..... home for Xmas .....