SHE went to court out of curiosity, to see how the Australian legal system works.

But within days, the 30-year-old Chinese-Australian had been on bail, had narrowly escaped a conviction for contempt of court and had her fingerprints taken by the police.

All she had done was to enter a Downing Centre courtroom and use her phone to take a picture of the jury, which included her best friend's husband. A member of the jury noticed it and sent a note alerting the judge, who charged her with contempt of court.

Before she knew it, her phone had been confiscated, she was addressed by the judge, placed on bail and told to seek legal representation.

A sheriff examined her phone and found a photo showing at least nine jury members - a serious offence because their identity is protected by law.