A WOMAN juror who used a puzzle book to distract herself during the trial of a Droitwich dentist has been fined £1,200 for contempt of court.

She looked at the book at Birmingham Crown Court – but denied having it when questioned by Judge Robert Juckes QC.

After an usher produced it, she claimed the book “aided her concentration”.

The judge, sitting at Worcester Crown Court, said she had “lied” and could have gone to prison.

She was a juror at the trial of Ikhlaq Hussain, aged 38, who was found guilty of two charges of conspiracy to defraud patients into paying inflated prices at his practice in Blackfriars Avenue, Droitwich.

He said: “During evidence given by witnesses you paid no attention to the case because you were using a puzzle book to distract yourself. You wanted the afternoon off. You said that reading it aided your concentration. But a man was on trial for his liberty and his professional standards.

“This was gross contempt. You deliberately distracted yourself from the proceedings. You could have put the case at risk.”

The judge said he had to discharge the middle-aged juror from the trial – and continue with 10 jurors.

During the three week trial, which ended on June 7, the juror – who cannot be named for legal reasons – claimed a total of £1,166 expenses.

She said she earned £900 a month and her employers claimed her expenses back.

The juror, who represented herself, insisted: “I was listening but have trouble concentrating. The book kept my mind active. It was on my lap and I was looking at it, but I didn’t do anything in the book. I apologise.”

Hussain, of College Road, Alum Rock, Birmingham co-owned the practice with partner Jaspal Bachada, aged 36, of Redlake Drive, Stourbridge, who already admitted fraud.

Between April 2002 and 2006 they committed fraud which amounted to £130,000 Birmingham Crown Court heard.

Both are due to be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court next month.