Attorney General to consider action against juror after collapse of Sheffield Crown Court trial

The Attorney General will decide whether any action is taken against a juror after a trial involving serious sexual allegations had to be abandoned in its fifth week.

The juror, who cannot be named, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on Monday where the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told him he is referring the case to the Attorney General, Lord Hermer, to investigate.

The details of the trial which had to be abandoned cannot be reported, but Judge Richardson said: "A case which lasted 22 days involving serious sexual allegations was halted and the jury discharged."

The judge added: "The alleged jury irregularity has been referred to the Attorney General for investigation."

The juror sat next to his solicitor in the well of the court for the half-hour hearing.

There will be a retrial in the abandoned case, the court heard.

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