Internet-search juror is jailed for contempt

Academic Theodora Dallas, 34, had told other jurors what her research had revealed about a defendant on trial at Luton Crown Court in July 2011.

The judge aborted the trial after learning about her research.

She was sentenced by three judges at the High Court in London, including Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice.

She will serve three months and be on licence for the remainder of the term.

At the time of the trial which she caused to be abandoned, Dallas was a psychology lecturer.

She told the judges she had “no intention” to “influence” the jury.

She had not “deliberately” ignored instructions but had “misunderstood” the trial judge’s directions.

The judges refused Dr Dallas permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, but she can still apply directly to the highest court in the land.

Lord Judge said Dr Dallas had “deliberately disobeyed” the trial judge’s instructions not to search the internet and added: “The damage to the administration of justice is obvious.”