Simon Collins

A High Court juror who Googled information about rape sentences and passed it on to fellow jury members has been found guilty of contempt of court. Cleaner Julie Williamson was fined £400 after the High Court in Dundee heard she tried to persuade other jurors not to find the accused guilty. Her forbidden online research led her to tell jury members that a rapist could be jailed for up to 19 years and that they were not qualified to make that decision.

As floodstorm Henk spewed two days after the Met Office issued a heavy rain warning, rail passengers were encouraged to return home early today. Customers were warned by Great Western Railway that they did not start journeys and that those who had already traveled should consider a return train 'as soon as possible.' South Western Railway, Thameslink, Southern, and Gatwick Express all warned of severe disruption later on, with speed limits imposed on certain lines. The Met Office first issued a rain warning from Cornwall to Suffolk, but then extended it northwards into Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. It runs until 3 a.m. tomorrow, and it warns of further power cuts and villages being cut off. Meteorologists have also warned of further flooding of homes and businesses, road closures, challenging driving conditions, and cancellations of train and bus services. The London Fire Brigade also warned that as a result of the rain, certain parts of London may suffer flash floods,' so'so make sure you know what to do in an emergency.' Six trees were destroyed during the storm, and Kew Gardens said today that the attraction in South West London would be'mulched and restored'.

The yellow weather warning for rain is in place from 12 p.m. today to three p.m. on Friday, with motorists warned of flooded roads and delays to local train and bus services along the south coast. The Met Office has warned stretches from the tip of Cornwall, Hampshire, Sussex, and Kent's furthest reaches, as well as parts of Suffolk. At its highest, the system will drop to 32mm (1.2 in) of rain an hour, and it could fall to 50mm (1.96in) of precipitation on the worst-affected areas. The effects, according to forecasters, will be worst-felt in areas hit by Storm Henk, particularly where groundwater levels are high after the onset of heavy downpours that left homes deflooded and roads cut off. There were 269 flood warnings in England on Thursday morning, indicating that floodwater is likely, as well as two additional 295 flood warnings (right).