Man jailed for trying to influence jury member

Police said Malcolm Vann approached the juror outside Leicester Crown Court during a break in proceedings

A man has been jailed for 18 months for trying to influence a jury member in the trial of one of his relatives.

Malcolm Vann approached the juror outside Leicester Crown Court during a break in proceedings, police said.

Leicestershire Police said Vann, 69, told the juror he could disclose things that would "make them think different" and continued to disclose details not talked about during trial.

The force said the juror reported the encounter, in August 2021, and the trial subsequently collapsed.

'Above the law'

Vann, of Blakesley Walk, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, was charged with perverting the course of justice.

He denied the offence but was convicted after a trial at Northampton Crown Court.

He was sentenced at the same court on Friday.

Det Con Dan Thorpe, of Leicestershire Police, said: “Without doubt, Vann thought he was above the law.

"There’s little doubt in my mind that he didn’t think he’d face the consequences of his actions.

“What he did had a profound impact in several ways, most significantly on the victim in the case he was attending, who had already given evidence.

“We support the hard work undertaken by the courts and Vann’s actions wasted the time of the barristers, judge, jurors and the court staff involved because the case had to be re-tried.

"I hope this serves as an example that such actions simply won’t be tolerated.”

Vann's relative pleaded guilty at the re-trial, the force said.