BECKY SHEAVES

With all this experience under my belt, I can say that I have completely had my fill of jury service and will be quite content never to be called upon again

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SO the Government is considering scrapping jury trials for less serious offences. Now funnily enough, all my life I had wanted to be on a jury. So I was absolutely delighted a few years ago to receive the official-looking envelope with a bundle of paperwork in it, calling on me to do my duty as a citizen.

Off I went to the Crown Court in Exeter for my week of public responsibility. After making my contribution to the criminal justice system, I was thanked by the judge and assured that I wouldn't be called upon again for three full years. Three years and one month later, I was asked back. Yep, I had to do my duty all over again. I was less excited the second time because I knew what I was in for - hours and hours of sitting around behind the scenes with (if you are lucky) very occasional chances to actually be on a jury. Indeed, on my second stint, I wasn't asked to go into the court and hear a case even once. I was on the subs bench the whole time.

So nowadays, with all this experience under my belt, I can say for certain that I have completely had my fill of jury service and will be quite content never to be called upon again.