Jailed juror says lying to go to musical was stupid

Matthew Banks, 19, was released yesterday after serving four days of a 14-day sentence at a young offenders’ institution.

He said he had no idea that the trial would have to be halted while he was not there, as he had heard that cases sometimes sat with just 11 jurors.

He said he could not put into words how much he regretted his actions during the trial at Manchester Crown Court, after which he was found to be in contempt of court. He said: “I don’t know how to say how much I do regret what I did.

“Hindsight is a brilliant thing and I know I would not have done it if I had any idea that the case would have to be postponed.

“I knew it was stupid, but the ticket had been bought for me for a present and there was just a lot of people I didn’t want to let down.”

Mr Banks, who is studying French at Manchester University, said he had no idea he would end up in jail.

He said: “When I was told to go to court, I was just told that the judge might want to speak to me before the case restarted, then I was taken straight up to the dock and remanded in custody.

“I spoke to a barrister who said he was probably just flexing his legal muscles and I should get a fine. When I found out I was going to prison I just felt numb.”

Mr Banks went to London to see Chicago with his mother, Debbie Ennis, 49. She said she had no idea her son was meant to be sitting on the jury that day.

She said she thought the sentence was “very harsh”, adding: “When you think that there are people that commit crimes that hurt other people and they get off.”

Mr Banks said he was “happy” to have been released before Christmas, adding that he had been locked in his cell for his own safety after fellow inmates had found out that he was gay. He said: “Before that people were quite OK to me.”