Suspended prison sentence for woman who took photo in court

Friday 27 October 2023

A woman who took a photo of an advocate’s computer screen during a court hearing has been sentenced to three days in prison – with the sentence suspended for a year.

Georgina Louise Bellot took the photo during a court case on 13 January.

Sitting in the public gallery in the Royal Court she said she was able to see one of the advocates’ laptop screens and believed the advocate was surfing the internet. She took a photo of the screen on her mobile phone and showed it to a member of the court staff.

But photography is strictly prohibited in court so Bellot was found to be in contempt of court. She admitted the offence.

Crown Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting said signs at the court entrance remind visitors that mobile phones should either be switched off or on silent during proceedings, and that their use is banned. Ushers repeat the warning at the start of the day.

“She did not recall seeing the signs or remember hearing the warning," he said, going on to recommend a fine of £200.

Advocate Nicholas Mière, defending, said that the photo had been deleted immediately and pointed out: “There was never any intention to publish it. She is not on social media.”

He accepted the sentence recommended by the prosecution. But the Jurats decided on the more lenient one.

Lieutenant Bailiff Anthony Olsen was sitting with Jurats Kim Averty and David Le Heuzé.