Judge Andrew Menary QC, the recorder of Liverpool, said tips exchanged online had helped to convince the public that they can easily avoid their civic duty.

He made the remarks as he ordered Barry Grimes, 70, to pay £1,000 for providing a series of unacceptable excuses for his failure to attend Liverpool Crown Court, The Times reports.

Mr Grimes refused to serve as a juror and then failed to attend a subsequent contempt of court hearing.

Mr Menary said he had noticed an upwards trend in the number of people ignoring jury summonses and refusing to sit.