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A court official who fixed the selection of jurors has been jailed for nine months as it emerged that a convicted tobacco smuggler is launching an appeal.
Elaine Hemblade, 47, a jury officer at Basildon crown court, abused her position to summon neighbours Susan Wood and Michael Clifton.
Panel beater Mr Clifton, 44, and jobless Ms Wood, 46, claimed more than £8,000 during their jury service for loss of earnings and parking fees.
The pair were cleared of fraud after a trial but Hemblade, of Basildon, was jailed after she was convicted of three charges of misconduct in public office.
It emerged that a man found guilty by Hemblade's illegally recruited jurors of smuggling tobacco into Britain is seeking to quash his conviction at the Court of Appeal.
Hemblade also broke rules by selecting her son Ben Allen for a panel of jurors.
Suspicions were raised when an unusual reference number for Mr Allen was created by Hemblade in January last year. She was suspended soon after.
At Snaresbrook crown court yesterday, Judge David Radford described Hemblade's actions as "intentional, criminally culpable, inexcusable misconduct".
The judge said it was a "gross breach of trust" that undermined public faith in trials by jury.
