JURORS in a child sex abuse trial were left feeling faint while considering their verdicts during the heatwave this week.

Five men and seven women have been deliberating since Thursday at Hove Crown Court after the trial of Christ’s Hospital School teachers James Husband and Gary Dobbie.

The pair deny sexually abusing pupils at the leading private school in Horsham over the course of 13 years.

The jury has been out for four days but, because of the heat in the room they were using to discuss the case, Judge Christine Henson has been sending them home early.

The court heard some of the jurors had complained they were feeling faint on Monday – the day the Met Office issued a level 3 heatwave warning for the South East.

As they returned to continue their deliberations on Tuesday morning, Judge Henson told them: “I’m sorry that a number of you were feeling unwell yesterday. That’s completely unacceptable.

“My clerk and I went on a mission yesterday.

“There is a space in the basement. It does not sound very glamorous but it has the most fantastic air conditioning. It has daylight.

“It’s about four times bigger than the room you are in. If there are any problems, just send me a note.”

Extra staff were brought in to help the move and efforts were being made to cool the original rooms with extra fans, she added.

The jury was still out when the Argus went to press,