A Leeds woman who was inside her boyfriend's home when it was peppered with military-grade bullets has been found in contempt of court for causing the trial of the gunmen to collapse.
Sophie Holmes admitted to being in contempt of court after she loudly accused an innocent man of being the shooter, during a trial at Bradford Crown Court in October 2018.
Three men were standing trial for possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, after an assault rifle was used to fire 20 military grade bullets at the home of Paul Serrant (Ms Holmes' boyfriend) in October 2017.
Ms Holmes and Mr Serrant were inside the Bradford property when bullets flew through the kitchen and living room, but no one was injured.
When speaking to police, Miss Holmes said she had been approached by another man, who had threatened to have her house attacked.
He was not charged, but she accused him of the shooting during the trial when she was sat in the public gallery and then fled the court. The judge was then forced to discharge the jury and order a new trial.
At the end of the retrial, the three defendants were convicted and jailed.
At the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday, July 25 Miss Holmes was given a six-month prison sentence that has been suspended for two years.
Attorney general Geoffrey Cox said: “Ms Holmes’ outburst impeded the course of justice and not only resulted in the jury being discharged and the extra cost of another trial, it also led to the prolonging and disruption of a delicate case.
"It is therefore appropriate that Ms Holmes has been found in contempt of court.”
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