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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.
Reader views (3)
How can anyone defend anyone who potentially perverts the course of justice, how would she have felt if her jury was hand picked and the odds stacked against her and
I think it should of been 9 months for each count she was found guilty of.
If you don't want to do the time then DON'T DO THE CRIME !!
- Malli Catchi, Basildon, 19/06/2009 14:18
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Having listened to the trial there is no way she can choose who goes on what trial,i feel the court let her down ,why let someone move from canteen ass to jury officer without any training have such an important position,she asked several times for training ,the only thing she is guilty of is not understanding,it shouldnt have been that easy to get people on jury service,you have members of paliment doing more misconduct and getting away with it where is the justice that someone with no crimial record at all ,lost the job she loved because she didnt have proper training.THIS DOES NOT WARRANT A 9 MONTH PRISON SENTENCE AT THE TAX PAYERS EXPENCE She has suffered enough ,now shes lost her identity,job,and reputation wheres the justice she done nothing wrong,the others were found not guilty wheres the misconduct .Makes me mad that people get less or even nothing for commiting more,or was it because the court were to embarrased to admit they failed her i feel they did. Did the jury in this trial actually understand the charge i never
- Helen Haslett, pitsea essex, 19/06/2009 12:02
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I think its a joke she was jailed for makin an honest mistake when there are people out there ruining peoples lives and breaking familes and get less then even a jail sentance!
- Holli, basildon, 18/06/2009 21:05
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