A JUROR has been discharged from a trial after he was caught smoking cannabis outside Bolton Crown Court during a lunch break.

Shezad Hussain, aged 26, of Hamel Street, Great Lever, is now waiting to hear if he will be held in contempt of court — which could result in a jail sentence.

The alarm was raised after Hussain was spotted smoking the class-B drug by a juror in another trial.

Hussain was discharged from his jury duty and will find out on Friday whether he will face contempt of court proceedings.

He was a member of the jury in the trial of Lee Mohan, aged 36, of Back Drake Street in Rochdale, who Drake Street in Rochdale, who is accused of rape and sexual assault of a child. Mr Mohan has since been cleared of three counts of rape.

When Hussain was seen smoking cannabis, court staff told PC Mike Bailey, a police officer who is based at the court in Blackhorse Street, Bolton.

Hussain originally denied smoking the cannabis, but confessed after PC Bailey told him DNA could be obtained from the cigarette end he found in the street.

Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC said Hussain could not be relied upon to tell the truth and said he should be discharged.

Mr Clarke said the claims from Richard Dawson, defending, that people continue to function in society after smoking cannabis — and therefore a juror can return a verdict — were “not appealing”.

He said: “I don’t think a verdict found when a juror who was smoking cannabis could be regarded as safe.”

Speaking to the juror, he said: “I have decided it is not in the interest of justice that you sit on this jury.

“I am going to discharge you from giving a verdict.

What you did has had an impact on this court and elsewhere.

“Delays and costs have now been added to this case.

I have to decide whether it was in contempt of court.”

He was also discharged from completing his second week of jury service.

Mr Clarke told the remaining jury members of seven men and four women that they would continue to deliberate as 11.

The jury could not reach a decision on the trial and was dismissed. A retrial may be held.

Hussain will appear at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, where Mr Clarke will consider whether to sentence him.

He has not been charged with possessing cannabis.

Hussain is the second juror to be brought before a judge in the past month.

On Friday, Stuart Dobbs, aged 62, from Wigan, was ordered to pay £750 court costs after researching a case online while sitting on the jury of a dangerous driving case in Bolton.