Forged sick note leads to jail

A man who forged a sick note to excuse himself from attending Stafford Crown Court for trial on a drugs charge has earned himself an extra 28 days inside.

Judge John Maxwell, who should have heard the trial in May of last year, became suspicious when he was shown a statutory sick note excusing Simon Groves from work because the words "and court" had been added.

He ordered an investigation which resulted in Groves, aged 33, of Hampton Street, Cannock, being charged with doing an act intended to pervert the course of justice.

Groves pleaded guilty to the offence and was yesterday jailed for 28 days, to run consecutively to the three-year sentence he is already serving for possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.

Passing sentence Judge Mark Eades said all Groves was doing was delaying the inevitable. "But it caused police a lot of work and wasted a day of the court's time," he added.

Mr Patrick Sullivan, prosecuting, said Groves failed to attend court on May 3 and 4 for a two-day trial and the sick note was produced.

Mr Gerry Bermingham, for Groves, said: "It was a very stupid thing to have done and he knows that."

Groves eventually pleaded guilty to the drug offence.