THE brother of a defendant who took a photograph of a judge and posted the image on Facebook ended up in court himself on suspicion of contempt.

The man, whose name has yet to be officially released, apologised when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Thursday before Judge Jim Tindal.

Contempt of court can include disobeying or ignoring a court order, taking photos or shouting out in court, refusing to answer the court’s questions if you are called as a witness and publicly commenting on a court case, for example on social media or online news articles. Signs are placed at various locations around the city’s crown court, warning not to take photographs within the court, including the waiting areas.

Anyone found to be in contempt of court could go to prison for up to two years, get a fine, or both.

The Facebook post, which has been seen by the Worcester News, showed a photograph of Judge Nicolas Cartwright and four barristers, taken from the public gallery of court three.

The photo appeared as a status update from ‘Grant Chavy Turner-Lloyd’ from Wednesbury.

The photo was posted on July 29 and Mr Turner’s status read: “No Mata wat appens bruva hold it down n Ile get a visit sorted soon as love ya loads bruva xxxxx Bran Lloyd xxxxxx — at Worcester Crown Court.”

Judge Tindal, speaking on Thursday, said: “He accepts he took the photograph and posted it on social media. I have decided not to put the contempt to him in formal terms.”

Judge Tindal adjourned the case to be heard by Judge Robert Juckes QC, the Recorder of Worcester, on September 3.

Judge Tindal said: “In those circumstances I’m going to leave it to Judge Juckes, the senior judge in the court, to decide whether that amounts to something called contempt of court and, if it does, what he thinks is appropriate to do about it.”

He said he would explain to judge Juckes that the person who took the photo had apologised.