Personation of a juror is a common law offence in England and Wales, where a person impersonates a juror in a civil or criminal trial.Halsbury's Laws of England, volume 26: "Criminal Law", paragraph 686 (5th edition)Halsbury's Laws of England, volume 61: "Juries", paragraph 858 (5th edition) As a common law offence it is punishable by unlimited imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.Halsbury's Laws of England, volume 92: "Sentencing and Disposition of Offenders", paragraph 31 (5th edition) Personation of a juror also constitutes a contempt of court.Halsbury's Laws of England, volume 9(1): Contempt of Court", paragraph 434
There is no requirement to prove that the defendant had any corrupt motive or a specific intention to deceive other than the fact that they entered the jury-box and took the oath in someone else's name, and it is no defence that they did not know what they did to be wrong. If a juror has been personated, the trial in which he sat can be voided.Halsbury's Laws of England, volume 61: "Juries", paragraph 853 (5th edition)Juries Act 1974, section 18(3)
See also Perverting the course of justice
References
R v Clark (1918) 82 JP 295, (1918) 26 Cox CC 138 R v Levy (1916) 32 TLR 238 R v Wakefield 1 KB 216, 13 Cr App R 56, CCA