A circuit judge briefly paused a sentencing hearing to confess to being distracted by rain falling inside her courtroom.

Judge Maria Lamb made the observation, as wet-weather overnight resulted in a fresh leak springing from the ceiling in courtroom two at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday.

The St Aldates courthouse’s second-largest courtroom has long suffered water ingress issues.

A large grey tarpaulin, rigged up to prevent water from dripping onto jurors, has been in place since at least 2019, the Oxford Mail understands – meaning it has outlasted three prime ministers and the same number of Secretaries of State for Justice.

However, Thursday’s drip appeared to have emerged from a new source in the far corner of the room.

Pausing prosecutor Robert Lindsey mid-flow, Judge Lamb turned her head towards the leak. Apologising to the bewigged barrister, she said: “I was momentarily distracted by the fact it is raining in court."

In another courtroom, Recorder Joseph Hart explained to jurors that the leak in courtroom two had delayed them being able to return to court to hear his summary of the evidence.

“It’s raining and one of the other courtrooms is leaking. I’m afraid we’re having to share this court with another jury,” he told the 12-strong panel.

A spokeswoman for HM Courts and Tribunals Service said: “Repair work is urgently taking place following a minor leak and cases have been moved to other courtrooms.

“The court will soon benefit from major refurbishments that are due to be completed by the end of the year.”

She added that all cases listed in courtroom two went ahead on Thursday except one sentencing, which was moved to a different courtroom.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward