COURT sessions abruptly ground to a halt at Grimsby Magistrates' Court after several solicitors suddenly found themselves trapped in their upstairs room.
A security lock in the solicitors' room failed – leaving those inside trapped.
The five suddenly finding themselves locked in and unable to get out were Sarah Middleton, Jade Taylor, Gary Bulbeck, Rachael Hartshorne and Jonathan Longbottom.
Solicitor Rebecca Perrin admitted "messing up" the lock and causing the problem in the first place.
She said: "I was trying to get in at the point when the lock broke. I was mortified because my apple was in there and I couldn't get it – but not as mortified as everyone who was inside."
Her colleague, Miss Middleton, said she tried to open the door from the inside but it would not work.
"We had to get security to help," she said.
Mr Bulbeck said: "Sarah went to unlock it but it wouldn't open so we were stuck there for about half an hour or 45 minutes. The bolt had jammed shut.
"I had three cases in court four in custody and couldn't come down and do them so the court slowed down."
The door was eventually opened – after the locking mechanism was removed – and those inside were finally freed.
Miss Perrin said: "They took the door frame off, removed the locking mechanism and put a new lock and door handle on."
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