Mum of three who failed to turn up for jury duty tells judge 'I forgot'

A mum who failed to turn up for jury duty has told a judge she "forgot".

Shania Begum was selected to serve as a juror at Liverpool Crown Court, but hung the phone up on staff after she did not show up. The teaching assistant in training today claimed that she had "got really busy" and "preoccupied with her kids" as she was fined hundreds of pounds, with the threat of being imprisoned herself looming if she does not pay.

The ECHO previously reported that the 29-year-old was selected for jury duty beginning on March 11 this year. However Begum, of Tully Avenue in Newton-le-Willows, did not attend on this date.

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When called by court staff, she answered but then put the phone down upon learning the nature of the contact. The worker phoned back later the same day and then the following day, but received no answer on both occasions and instead left voicemail messages.

Begum was subsequently sent a letter asking her to explain her absence, but failed to reply. On March 25, she was then sent a further letter by recorded delivery ordering her to appear before the court on Monday last week.

However, she again failed to appear and was found in contempt of court. Begum was fined £1,000, a sum which she was told to pay within 28 days or face two weeks in jail in default.

She was given 56 days to "make representations to the court as to the level of the fine" though. As a result, she belatedly contacted the court and appeared before the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC this morning, Friday.

Begum was not made to enter the dock and instead sat on the back row of counsel benches in well of court, with the mother to three boys aged 10, six and four saying: "I accepted the request. I was ok with that.

"Unfortunately, I didn't know the dates were clashing with Ramadan. As Muslims, we fast from sunrise to sunset.

"I don't want to make excuses or anything. I simply got busy and forgot.

"I am really embarrassed about not answering the calls. I'm really sorry about that.

"I just got really busy. My son fasted for the first time.

"I was preoccupied with my kids. My grandma in Bangladesh, she passed away as well.

"It was just really hard. I'm sorry."

When asked to explain her work and financial situation, Begum said: "I used to work, but it was a temporary contract and I got let off. At the moment, I'm doing teaching assistant courses to gain employment."

She also told the court that her husband works part-time as a taxi driver for St Helens-based firm A to B Taxis. Begum added: "My six-year-old son was really unwell.

"He had no iron, so he had no oxygen going to his brain. He was in and out of hospital for two or three years."

Judge Menary asked "is he ok now?", and Begum replied: "Yeah. There is no other reason.

"I'm truly embarrassed. I'm not usually like this.

"I'm usually good with appointments. I'm just really sorry.

"I'm just embarrassed by the whole thing. I understand if I stayed in contact we could have come up with a solution."

The judge said: "There would have been no issue at all in postponing it to another time. What we cannot have is people just not turning up."

Recorder Menary however said he would be "willing to reduce the fine" to one of £250. This must be paid at a rate of £50 per month.

Begum will face seven days in prison should she fail to do so. The judge added: "I am sorry this happened, but obviously it is very important that people attend for jury service."

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