Daniel Thomas fined for Mold Crown Court selfie Published duration 20 March 2014

image copyright Dee News Service image caption Thomas said he took the photograph because it was the first time he had been in a court when he was not a defendant

A man who took a selfie photograph of himself inside a court has been fined £400.

Daniel Lee Thomas, 28, later posted the Mold Crown Court photograph, which showed a judge and the court crest in the background, on Facebook.

Thomas, of Connah's Quay, Flintshire, admitted taking and publishing a photograph of a judge in a court, before Flintshire magistrates.

He said he did not know it was a criminal offence.

The photograph was reported to police by court staff after a member of the public made a complaint.

Police went to Thomas's home, seized his phone and found the offending photograph.

The court heard Thomas decided to take the picture because it was the first time he had been in a crown court when he was not the defendant.

He said he had not seen the signs warning people not to take photographs and was not aware it was an offence.

Magistrates told him he was fortunate not to be charged with contempt of court, which could have landed him a prison sentence.