Juror fined for looking up floorplan during rape trial

Hours before Tonder was convicted, the court was told about Spratt’s behaviour in end-of-trial discussions involving fellow members of the jury.

Court officials found that she had used the property website to look up the floorplan of a house closely resembling that of the one where the victim in Tonder’s case was attacked.

They also found she had used the search engine to find the definition of the controversial not proven verdict.

It is one of three verdicts that can be returned in a criminal case in Scotland.

In legal terms it is an acquittal but critics claims it is confusing and can stigmatise the accused person as well as failing to provide closure for victims.

A bill to abolish the verdict passed its first stage at Holyrood in April.

Spratt’s defence lawyer, Brian Gilfedder said she accepted her actions were a “failure” on her part to follow “directions given to her at the start of the trial” .

Lord Lake said he did not think a jail sentence was appropriate as her actions did not result in the trial collapsing.

He said: “I do find you to be in contempt of court. You will be fined a sum of £400.”