Jurors Flout Rules, Halt Nottingham Shooting Trial
Four jurors—Tina Denning, Ann-Marie Fletcher, Sharon Doughty, and Jamie Lowe—used their mobiles to dig up info online about defendants in a high-profile Nottinghamshire double shooting trial.
Shots Fired in Nottingham and Upper Langwith
The first attack happened on 2 October 2018 when shots smashed through a house window in Upper Langwith. The second took place on 3 November 2018 near Das Kino bar in Nottingham city centre, where a woman was hit in the arm by rounds fired from a moped-riding gunman.
Trial Ends in Disaster After Jury Misconduct
Eight suspects faced multiple charges linked to both attacks at Nottingham Crown Court. From the start, jurors were explicitly warned—on 2 October 2019—not to do any case research themselves, either online or offline. The judge stressed this was a criminal offence and handed out leaflets outlining their duties. Warnings continued throughout the trial.
Despite this, while the jury deliberated starting 12 February 2020, four jurors broke the rules by researching the case online and sharing findings with fellow jurors. The scandal forced the jury to be discharged on 10 March 2020—with four defendants’ verdicts still pending. Two others had already been acquitted.
£1.4 Million Public Bill and Court-Jailed Jurors
The aborted trial cost taxpayers over £1.4 million. Police probes revealed each of the four jurors had used their phones to carry out forbidden research. All were charged under the Juries Act 1974.
- Ann-Marie Fletcher, 41, from Ironville, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to four counts. She received a six-month suspended sentence and 120 hours community service.
- Sharon Doughty, 51, from Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, admitted two counts of researching plus disclosing info to jurors. She got six months suspended and 120 hours unpaid work.
- Jamie Lowe, 27, of Long Eaton, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to four counts, sentenced to four months suspended and 80 hours unpaid work.
- Tina Denning, 50, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to researching and sharing info, receiving four months suspended and 80 hours unpaid work.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski slammed the jurors’ actions: “Not only did this cause a costly trial collapse, delaying justice, but it forced witnesses to relive trauma at re-trial. They knew the rules and recklessly broke them. Let this be a warning to all jurors about their vital duty to the justice system.”
