Under Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1925, it is illegal to take or attempt to take any photograph or moving photograph in any court, or to publish any media taken in contravention of that section of the Act. Signs stating taking photographs or videos is not permitted within the court’s precincts are in place in a number of locations at Sheffield Crown Court. Anyone who flouts the prohibitions could also be put in contempt of court.
The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, was delivering his sentencing remarks, seconds away from sending a defendant involved in the disorder to prison, when the courtroom’s usher spotted the pensioner openly filming proceedings using his mobile phone.
The man was sitting in the public gallery, which is positioned above the court, as he filmed.
The usher alerted Judge Richardson to the man’s conduct immediately after the Sheffield Crown Court hearing concluded yesterday afternoon (August 15), and a detective giving evidence in another court was drafted in to assist the court.
The man said he was not connected to anyone involved in the case, and had come to view the proceedings after seeing coverage of previous hearings for those who have admitted to their involvement in the violent disorder at the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham on August 4, 2024.
The man admitted he had been filming – because he did not know it was illegal to do so – and had sent some of the content to his wife. He said he had since deleted the pictures and videos, however, the court heard.
He was placed in the court’s cells as the matter was looked into, and after no pictures or videos taken during proceedings were found on his phone, he was bailed to appear in front of Judge Richardson this morning (August 16, 2024). The man was told that his wife, who is disabled and uses a wheelchair, must also attend with her mobile phone.
