They 'felt guilty' after an afternoon out drinking in the Slug and Lettuce

Two jurors who felt guilty for convicting two men then messaged them on Snapchat after an afternoon drinking session.

George Matthews, 30, and Katherine Davies, 26, disclosed the top-secret jury deliberations, which led to the criminals appealing their sentences and costing the taxpayer thousands of pounds.

The pair went out drinking at the Slug and Lettuce Iron Gate in Derby City Centre after Matthews, the jury foreman, delivered the criminals' guilty verdicts for drugs offences in autumn 2021.

They felt 'guilty' about their earlier decision and hunted for both men on social media to make direct contact with them - which is against the law.

Matthews then messaged one juror on Snapchat, while Davies struck up a 'flirtatious' conversation with a second, Derby Crown Court heard.

Jurors George Matthews, 30, and Katherine Davies, 26, felt guilty for convicting two men and messaged them on social media

Handing both of them suspended sentences, Judge Shaun Smith KC said: 'The top and bottom of it was that you felt sorry for the defendants after having had a drink and in your own befuddled way did what you did.

'But I have to put my other hat on and tell you this is a very serious offence.

'Ultimately the reason people are charged with this offence is to deter other jurors from taking the same steps.

'Every time (I swear a jury) I tell them they can get into trouble for doing certain things but I don't think even in your wildest nightmares, rather than dreams, (you would have considered) what the financial costs to the Court of Appeal this kind of behaviour entailed.'

Section 20D of the 1974 Juries Act makes it an offence to deliberately disclose details about a jury's deliberations - even after a trial has taken place.

Matthews, 30, of Chellaston Road, and Davies, 26, of Windley Crescent, both pleaded guilty to intentionally disclosing jury deliberations.

Both were handed four-month sentences, suspended for a year and were ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work each.

Sarah Allen, prosecuting, said Matthews, of Allenton and Davies, of Darley Abbey, sat on the jury over a six-week trial at the same court in the autumn of 2021.

Matthews messaged once juror on Snapchat, while Davies struck up a 'flirtatious' conversation with a second, Derby Crown Court (pictured) heard

She said having reached their guilty verdicts on the defendants for drugs matters on November 10, a group of them went to the Slug and Lettuce, in Iron Gate, and began drinking.

The prosecutor said: 'Matthews decided to contact (one of the defendants) over Snapchat and Davies contacted (a second defendant) saying she was in the pub all afternoon and began a flirtatious conversation.'

Miss Allen then told the hearing the precise contents of what the messages said which cannot be reported by law.

She said: 'Matters came to light when one of the defendants told his solicitor the following day. As a result of their actions three defendants appealed their sentences (at the Court of Appeal in London) but they were unsuccessful.'

Justin Ablott, for Matthews, said his client is autistic and that a psychiatrist's report had been prepared on his behalf.

William Bennett, for Davies, said despite these ongoing legal proceedings his client has kept her job which involves dealing with would-be parents having screenings to find out if their unborn children may have any life-changing conditions.