A member of a Bradford jury has herself been hauled before the courts after allegedly carrying out and sharing research into a trial she was sitting in as a juror earlier this year.

Marie McCahery, of Oxford Road, near Peel Park, Undercliffe, Bradford, appeared before deputy district judge Tony Watkin at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court yesterday, charged with two offences.

It is alleged that on February 20 this year, at Bradford Crown Court, being a member of a jury that tried an issue in a case before a court, she allegedly researched the case during the trial period. It is alleged she did so by researching details of a motorbike which formed part of the evidence in the criminal trial.

The second charge, on the same date, alleges McCahery, 62, while a juror at Bradford Crown Court, intentionally disclosed information, namely issues regarding the case, in particular a motorbike, to other members of the jury, having contravened section 20A of the Juries Act 1974 in the process of obtaining that information and that information having not been provided by the court.

Smartly dressed wearing a green jacket and green patterned dress, McCahery spoke only to confirm her name, age and address, and to answer both charges in which she answered ‘no indication’ of plea.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, it is an offence for a member of the jury to: Research the case he or she is trying during the trial period for reasons connected to that case (s.20A Juries Act 1974). Intentionally disclose information to another member of the jury that had been obtained by research in contravention of the previous section (s.20A) and the information has not been provided by the court (s.20B Juries Act 1974).

McCahery was committed to Bradford Crown Court for a plea hearing on December 20.

She was given unconditional bail to appear on that date.