Lottery millionaire jailed for ignoring court summons - by going on sunshine holiday instead

Chip shop worker Leah Sumray, 21, who won the jackpot on a scratchcard, ignored a witness summons and went on a five-star break to the Canary Islands.

She had been due to give evidence at an assault trial which ended earlier this week with the defendant being acquitted.

Sumray was arrested on her return at Bristol International Airport on Wednesday evening and appeared in court yesterday dressed in her summer clothes and sporting a tan.

Her parents watched from the back of the court as Judge Christopher Elwen condemned her "flagrant and wilful contempt of court" and sentenced her to a 14-day prison term.

He also ordered Sumray, from St Ives in Cornwall, to pay £200 in prosecution costs, saying: "Your solicitor has given your apologies to the court and assured me you are genuinely remorseful.

"But, as has been said many times before, to ensure the proper administration of justice anyone who is fully bound as a witness in a criminal trial is duty bound to attend to give evidence.

"This was a flagrant and wilful contempt of court for which there was no excuse whatsoever. Such contempt can only be dealt with by a short, immediate custodial sentence."

She had been due to give evidence against Mark Rodriguez, 38, who was accused of causing actual bodily harm against girlfriend Janine Harkins, 24.

In mitigation, Jeremy Leeming, said Sumray went on holiday to Fuerteventura because she was fearful of repercussions if she gave evidence.

He added that she was young and naive and did not realise what a serious position she was putting herself in.

But Judge Elwen told Miss Sumray: "There have been no direct threats but I am advised that he (Rodriguez) has a particular reputation and that you and he live in the same town.

"The fears and concerns you may have had, founded or ill-founded, can be guarded against and measures taken to protect witnesses."

Rodriguez, who was on trial for allegedly punching and kicking his partner and strangling her with a dressing gown cord until she fell unconscious, walked free from court.

The judge said Sumray's evidence could have had a significant bearing on the outcome of the two-day hearing.

Sumray was working in the Dolphin Fish and Chip Bar in St Ives, earning £4.60 an hour, at the time of her National Lottery win last October. Detective Constable Martin Hearn told the court that when the trial date was fixed Sumray had no holiday booked but later told court liaison staff she had one arranged.

She then sent a text message to Harkins telling her she would not be able to give evidence at the trial.

DC Hearn told the court: "I spoke to her last week and advised her that if she went on holiday she would be in contempt of court and likely to be arrested on her return.

"A witness summons was issued and delivered to her personally on December 28.

"Subsequently Janine Harkins, the alleged victim of the assaults, received a message from Miss Sumray informing her she was going on holiday and would not be at court.

"I telephoned and spoke with Miss Sumray in Fuerteventura and she explained that her family had advised her to go on holiday and not to attend court."

Sitting in the back of the court were Sumray's father Matthew, 50, and mother Dawn, 48, who refused to comment afterwards.

Speaking at the time of her win, Miss Sumray, who matched two symbols on a £5 card she bought at the end of a shift, said she was planning on treating parents and three siblings to a luxury holiday in the Caribbean.

She said: "I'll splash out on a few things and enjoy myself but there's no way I'll give up my job."