Judge warns 'foolish' man who filmed riot hearing

The man was brought before Judge Richardson after filming at Sheffield Crown Court

A judge has warned a man in his 70s "you could've ended up in prison" after he was caught illegally taking pictures and videos inside a courtroom.

The man had been watching court proceedings related to the Rotherham riot from the public gallery at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday when he ended up in the dock himself.

The 76-year-old had "quite openly" filmed the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, and attempted to send the clips and images to his wife.

Judge Richardson decided to take no further action after it transpired that the footage had been deleted and was never sent on, but told the man that he had been "exceptionally foolish".

It is illegal to take pictures or record videos inside a courtroom but recent law changes now allow judges' sentencing remarks to be broadcast to a TV and online audience with permission from the court.

The hearing was told the BBC filmed Judge Richardson's sentencing remarks in several Rotherham riot cases on Wednesday.

It is assumed the man later saw the TV report and decided to attend court the following day "out of curiosity".

'Don't ever do that again'

Members of the public are welcome to attend court hearings as part of open justice principles.

However, taking photographs and videos or drawing portraits or sketches inside a courtroom is a criminal offence Under the Contempt of Court Act 1981.

A judge can issue a fine or imprison someone for a maximum of two years if found guilty of contempt.

Judge Richardson initially remanded the man into custody on Thursday and later bailed him with the condition to appear before him in the morning with his wife.

A police officer confirmed during Friday's hearing that the defendant thought he had forwarded the images and video but there had been no evidence his wife ever received them.

Judge Richardson stressed that members of the public were welcome to come to court but said no private individual was permitted to take photographs or film.

"You were remanded into custody yesterday afternoon and I am sure for a man aged 76, having never been in trouble before, going to the cells as a common criminal was not a very agreeable situation," he told him.

"You have been exceptionally foolish and fortunate that as a result of your incompetence no damage has been caused to the court."

Judge Richardson warned the "extremely apologetic" defendant that he could have ended up behind bars, adding: "Don't ever do that again."

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