Man jailed for trying to influence juror outside court

A relative of a man standing trial at Leicester Crown Court has been jailed after he was found guilty of trying to influence a juror.

On 5 August 2021, Malcolm Vann attended the hearing of someone known to him who was standing trial. During a break in proceedings, he went outside for a cigarette where he saw someone he recognised as being on the jury.

Vann spoke to the juror and said he could disclose things that would ‘make them think different’ and continued to disclose details not talked about during trial. The juror, knowing that they should not be conversing with one another, went back inside the Wellington Street building and disclosed what had happened to court staff.

Vann, 69, was arrested by police when he went back into court. The case concerning his family member subsequently collapsed but resulted in a guilty plea at a re-trial.

Vann, of Blakesley Walk, Beaumont Leys, pleaded not guilty but was convicted of one count of perverting the course of justice on 16 August this year, following a trial at Northampton Crown Court.

On Friday (4 October), he was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.

Detective Constable Dan Thorpe, the investigating officer, 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.”