Juror narrowly avoids jail after researching ongoing trial

A juror narrowly avoided jail after he ignored a judge's warnings and researched an ongoing trial online.

Aslam Dhamani caused a two-week trial to collapse which forced an expensive retrial when he researched issues that had been raised during the proceedings.

The 41-year-old was acting as the foreman of the jury during the trial at Snaresbook Crown Court, in 2016.

Jurors are not allowed to do their own research during criminal trials or share what they discover with other members of the jury.

Dhamani, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, also pleaded guilty to sharing the information he found with other jurors, causing the entire jury to be dismissed, forcing a retrial.

He was given a seven month prison sentence suspended for 12 months at Snaresbrook Crown Court, east London.