Judge red faced as phone goes off

7 Feb 2008 | 18:20 GMT

By Tony Dennis

IT'S NOT only theatres that need mobile phone jammers – it's courts, too, as Brit judge, Charles Byers, found out to his cost. He was in mid-session when a mobile phone went off – disrupting proceedings.

Letting your phone ring in court can potentially land you in big trouble for contempt of court and, in most instances these days, courts routinely confiscate the phones from those sitting in the public gallery.

Unfortunately for Judge Byers the phone disrupting proceedings was his own and he was forced to apologise to the court claiming that he had absent-mindedly brought it with him.

The incident raised a few titters but that didn't stop the judge from awarding the defendant two life sentences for attempted murder and armed robbery.

Perhaps this incident will help those in the UK who want to make phone jamming in public places a legal practice. Churches and other places of worship would probably benefit as well. µ

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