A WOMAN called for jury service was fined £100 yesterday after she failed to turn up.

Nicola McBurney had been due to carry out jury service at Teesside Crown Court in June but did not attend.

Yesterday, Judge Peter Fox QC called for her to appear in court to explain her absence, but Ms McBurney again failed to attend.

Judge Fox said: "It is with regret that I have to take the very rare step of fining this lady."

The judge ordered that Ms McBurney should pay the fine within 28 days, but warned if she failed to pay then magistrates would have the power to send her to prison.

Judge Fox said: "I very much hope it will not come to that."

The court had heard Ms McBurney had received a summons to do jury service on June 8 but did not attend.

A police officer then went to her home in Laburnum Road, Redcar, and was told she had not appeared because she had a chest or back illness. But she had not been to a doctor and had not made contact with the court.

Judge Fox said the police officer had informed him it was his opinion that Ms McBurney had just not bothered and thought nothing would happen.