BURNLEY'S top judge took the unprecedented step of fining a juror said to have told court staff to "stuff" public duty -- and she could face a week in jail if she doesn't pay up.

Mrs Anne R Moughton had been brought back to the town's Crown Court to explain to Judge Raymond Bennett, Honorary Recorder, why she had turned up for jury service but then did not report back later.

Mrs Moughton, who looks after a grandchild, had been told by a court staff member that it was her public duty to serve on a jury, but was said to have told the employee to "stuff" public duty and her family came first, the court was told.

Retired Mrs Moughton, of Edinburgh Drive, Helmshore, told the judge she had been given the impression it was all right not to return and believed she would be telephoned if needed.

She said she had not been able to report at the "drop of a hat," but the judge said she would have been given time to make arangements when she received her summonse for jury service.

Judge Bennett told her: "We can't have people saying you can stuff public duty.

"This is the first time I have had to deal with a juror taking the attitude that you have taken in the seven or eight years that I have been here. "

Mrs Moughton was fined £50 to be paid at £3 a week and will serve seven days in prison in default if the money is not paid. She left the witness box saying: "Unbeliveable."