A solicitor was stuck in a court lavatory for almost two hours yesterday.

Ironically Winchester-based John Whettingsteele was doing a colleague a favour. The colleague had to attend a hearing in Portsmouth and he deputised for her at Southampton Magistrates Court.

He arrived at the London Road complex at about 9am and nipped to the second floor loo. Unfortunately the door jammed and he could not get out.

He used his mobile phone to call reception, who alerted the maintenance team. It was not until about 11am that he was freed.

“At least it gave me time to read my files,” he quipped.