Four of the longest-serving jurors in British history have spoken out about the impact sitting on a 20-month trial has had on their lives.
The group, identified as Julie, Anne-Marie, Paul and Emma, said they struggled to go back to normality after deliberating on the trial of Edwin McLaren and his wife Lorraine for property fraud .
The trial, which began in September 2015 at the High Court in Glasgow, finally ended in May after nearly two years. Edwin McLaren was found guilty and handed an 11-year prison sentence.
Speaking to the BBC , 37-year-old Julie said the trial had a significant impact on her life and she struggled to return to her work at a travel agency when it finished.
“I went back and did two days’ training and then I went two days into the shop. I’ve never been back since,” she said.
“I’ve not given it up yet. I am going through the doctor and trying to get back into it,” she continued, adding she was still struggling several months on.
“I’m really struggling with communication now. There should be more psychological support made available for jurors who sit through long trials.”
Anne-Marie said she found it difficult to return to her job as a civil servant.
“It was a totally different way of life for 20 months, and then the day it finished you are back to what is supposed to be normal and it is difficult to adjust.”
England's Anthony Harding and England's Jack Laugher competes to win and take the gold medal in the men's synchronised 3m springboard diving final on day eight of the Commonwealth Games at Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham, central England
AFP/Getty
The Top Secret Drum Corps from Switzerland during the working rehearsal for this year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, entitled Voices, at Redford Barracks, Edingburgh
PA
England’s Emily Campbell celebrates after winning gold in the women’s 87+kg weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games
Getty
Circus company Lost in Translation show off some tricks at the top of Calton Hill in Edinburgh
Getty
England's players celebrate during a victory party in Trafalgar Square in central London
AFP/Getty
England's striker Chloe Kelly celebrates after scoring her team second goal during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final football match between England and Germany at the Wembley stadium
AFP/Getty
People during Belfast Pride parade which returns to the city for the first time since the pandemic
PA
Maxwell Tall, 2, cries as Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks to the media during a visit to Mums for Lungs community group in South Woodford, London, to coincide with the final day of the ULEZ expansion consultation and the publishing of new air quality data
PA
Liz Truss during a visit to a broadband interchange company in Leeds, as part of her campaign to be leader of the Conservative Party and the next prime minister
PA
A person waits for a train at Kings Cross Station as union members take part in a fresh strike over jobs, pay and conditions
PA
Lavender is harvested at Lordington Lavender farm near Chichester, West Sussex
PA
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves (left) view a robot during a visit to the Manufacturing Technology Centre at the Liverpool Science Park, as part of a two day visit to the city
PA
Emma Parfett and Shaun Smith paddle in the sea during the Whitby Steampunk Weekend in Yorkshire
PA
Members of environmental groups including Just Stop Oil, the Peace and Justice Project and Insulate Britain take part in a mass protest, in Parliament Square in London
AP
Traffic queuing to check in at the port of Dover on the A2 as holiday makers struggle to get away
SWNS
Tory leadership candidate Liz Truss meeting staff and children during a visit to the charity Little Miracles in Peterborough
PA
The chard remains of homes in the village of Wennington after the heat triggered a series of blazes across the UK
Tom Maddick/SWNS
Britain’s Jake Wightmancelebrates after winning the 1500m at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon
EPA
A police officer givers water to a soldier wearing a traditional bearskin hat, on guard duty outside Buckingham Palace. The government issued their first-ever red warning for extreme heat
AP
Cameron Smith kisses The Claret Jug on the 18th green after he won The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course
R&A via Getty
Ministry of Fun skaters during the annual International Busking Day event at Wembley Park, London
PA
Ellen White, Millie Bright, Beth Mead and Rachel Daly celebrate with the fans after England beat Northern Ireland in their last Euro 2022 group match in Southampton
Getty
Actor Kevin Spacey leaves the Old Bailey in London, he is charged with sexual offences against three men. The 62-year-old is accused of four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent
PA
Batonbearer, diver Sebastian Prajsnar carries the Queen’s Baton for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, in the aquarium at The Deep, sealife attraction in Hull as the baton visits the Yorkshire region during its 25-day tour of England in the final countdown to the games
PA
A general view of cracked earth with the houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower, more commonly known as Big Ben, seen behind as hot weather continues
Reuters
A man swims in the Sky Pool, a transparent swimming pool suspended 35 meters above ground between two apartment buildings, during hot weather in Nine Elms, central London
PA
Winner Novak Djokovic and runner up Nick Kyrgios following the Men’s Singles Final at The 2022 Wimbledon Championships
Getty
People enjoy the warm weather on Southsea Beach in Hampshire
PA
Alfie Hewett celebrates winning his match against Gustavo Fernandez in their Gentlemen’s Wheelchair Singles semi-final match at Wimbledon
PA
Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the nation as he announces his resignation outside 10 Downing Street
Getty
England players celebrate after winning their opening match of the Women’s Euro against Austria
Reuters
British Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, British Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, British Attorney General Suella Braverman and British Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris attend the weekly Cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London
Getty
Australia's Nick Kyrgios celebrates winning against US Brandon Nakashima at the end of their round of 16 men's singles tennis match on the eighth day of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon
AFP/Getty
Fields of borage in flower turn the landscape purple near Feering in Essex
PA
Pride parade in London
Getty
Supporters of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange protest outside the Home Office in London to mark his birthday.
PA
The Prince of Wales, known as the Duke of Rothesay while in Scotland, and The Princess Royal after attending the Order of the Thistle Service for the installation of The Right Honourable Dame Elish Angiolini and The Right Honourable Sir George Reid, at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh
PA
Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour party, speaks during PMQs
UK Parliament/AFP/Getty
Rafael Nadal attempts to reach the ball during his first round Wimbledon match against Francisco Cerundolo
Reuters
The cleaning up begins after the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm
EPA
Paul McCartney, from left, Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen perform at Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset
Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
The crowd watching Wet Leg performing on the Park Stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset
PA
An aerial view of the Glastonbury Festival site
James Dadzitis/SWNS
Festivalgoers on the first day of Glastonbury Festival
EPA
A general view of an empty platform at Paddington Station in London, as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union begin their nationwide strike in a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and conditions
PA
Handout photo issued by the Big Issue of the Duke of Cambridge selling the Big Issue in London
PA
Visitors explore the Arboria II luminaria, created by Architects of Air, during the Meliora Festival at the Beacon Arts Centre in Inverclyde. Arboria II is inspired by the geometry of nature and also Islamic architecture and features winding passages of small domes with light and colours created purely by daylight shining through the coloured plastic structure
PA
Demonstrators march in a trades union organised protest opposed to British government policies at Parliament Square in London, Britain
Reuters
Crowds on Bournemouth beach during a heatwave
Getty
Paige Dawson, 28, takes a selfie with her baby bump in a huge field of poppies in flower in Bramford, Suffolk
PA
The Jury Central Summoning Bureau selects names at random from the electoral register to do jury service, which normally lasts 10 working days but can be longer.
People aged 18 to 75 can be called to sit on a jury, as the age limit was raised from 70 last year .
During jury service, a juror may sit on more than one trial.
Jurors who find a trial distressing can speak to court staff for advice and are urged to contact the Samaritans if necessary.
