A POLICEMAN sitting on a jury during a trial at a North-East court had to be discharged from duty because of his job.

The Cleveland constabulary officer was part of a 12-strong jury panel selected to deliberate over a five-day trial at Teesside Crown Court.

Yesterday, after the juror's profession was revealed in a letter handed to the Judge overseeing the case, a decision was made to discharge the officer from the jury.

A retrial has now been ordered, at the taxpayers' expense, because the rest of the jury was also discharged.

It was felt by both the defence and prosecution barristers that difficulties could arise during the trial because the officer was assigned to the Cleveland Force and the case that was proceeding happened in the Cleveland area.

The trial was aborted because the judge said he did not wish the case to proceed with only 11 jurors.

Under guidance from Home Secretary David Blunkett, police officers, judges and other members of the judiciary can now serve as members of a jury.

The judge said the new legislation stipulated police officers could serve on juries but the authorities should ensure they do not sit on cases in their own force area.

He said: "That did not happen here. This particular person got through the net."

An order was made banning the Press from identifying the defendants in the case or any details of the trial.