Sienna Miller's day in court delayed by Ferry's illness

The actress Sienna Miller is used to public appearances but now she is set to tread the boards of the courtroom, as a witness in the upcoming trial of pro-hunt campaigner Otis Ferry.

The son of Roxy Music star Bryan is appearing in court next month to face criminal damage charges after preventing photographers from taking pictures of Miller and his brother, Isaac, as they left a club together.

The three had been on a night out at London nightclub Boujis in February when they encountered two photographers. Mr Ferry allegedly reached into a car where the photographers, Charlie Pycroft and Ben Brett, were sitting, grabbed their keys and threw them away.

Mr Ferry's younger brother was rumoured to be in a relationship with Miller at the time, and they had been at the Bafta after-party together at the South Kensington nightspot. Miller has already had several brushes with the paparazzi following a break-up with fellow actor Jude Law.

Mr Ferry, 24, from Eaton in Shropshire, had been due to start his trial at West London magistrates' court on Tuesday, but said he had been suffering from migraines and postponed the hearing to the following day.

When he then failed to appear in court yesterday, the court was informed he was still ill and on a course of anti-inflammatory drugs. A doctor had advised Mr Ferry that he was not in a condition to make the drive from his country pad to London.

Magistrate Susan Williams accepted that he was too ill to attend and adjourned the trial until 27 November. She said: "Simply saying 'I have got a headache and am not well is not a good enough reason not to come to court' but having looked into it, there does appear to have been more to it than I was aware of yesterday... Sometimes these things just cannot be foreseen."

Ms Williams made assurances to the court that his illness had been investigated. "A thorough enquiry has been made," she said.

Paul Lucas, acting for the defence, had been planning to call Miller as a witness, but future work commitments would now mean her attendance could not be guaranteed.

He said: "One of the defence witnesses is by nature of her profession unable to guarantee her attendance on those two days. Under the circumstances, all I can say is ask that it be noted that we may have some difficulties and if we have difficulties we will communicate to the court."

Mr Lucas was given two weeks to confirm that the new trial date will fit in with Miller's demanding schedule. Ms Williams expressed her reluctance at inconveniencing the other witnesses again, and pledged that the actress would be able to give evidence at a separate hearing if needed.

Mr Ferry has already had several brushes with the law. His first was when he broke into the debating chamber of Parliament in 2004, as part of a pro-hunting campaign. Last year he also pleaded guilty to drink-driving, after being caught 20 micrograms above the legal limit of blood-alcohol level.