In this roundup, we share the 10 most popular stories of 2021 – many of them reflecting the strangeness of the time, with a number of stories about remote hearing mishaps reaching the top 10.

And finally… in camera

A lawyer who inadvertently broadcast himself having sex with his client to a bemused judge in an online court hearing has been disbarred for life.

And finally… house of cards

A judge who was caught playing cards during a remote court hearing in a case worth nearly €100,000 has apologised.

And finally… lost and found

A drunk man who was reported missing after losing his friends inadvertently joined a search party looking for himself – for several hours.

And finally… fake law

A woman managed to dupe the legal profession into believing she was qualified to practise law for three years.

And finally… unexpected

A celebrity psychic who said he lost his powers after a car accident is facing a £100,000 legal bill after a judge ruled he had been “fundamentally dishonest” in his claim for compensation.

And finally… badge of shame

A solicitor has been suspended after being caught using a disabled blue badge she was not entitled to.

And finally… law is an ass

A defendant in a criminal case has been sharply rebuked by a judge after logging into a remote court hearing with the offensive name “Buttf*cker 3000”.

And finally… on a different planet

A police officer who called for backup because she was being pursued by a “drone” was left red-faced after colleagues pointed out it was the planet Jupiter.

And finally… porn connoisseur

A couple have been ordered to pay over £22,000 to their son after they binned his massive porn collection.

And finally… pizza nonsense

A man who was sacked for sharing a leftover slice of pizza with his son on a business trip has been awarded over £150,000 by a court.