PREPARATIONS for a Greenock court trial were thrown into disarray by a coronavirus alert at the jury centre at Braehead.

A juror turned up at the Odeon Cinema venue — where cases are being heard — despite his partner having tested positive for Covid-19, court sources said.

It's understood the man spoke with officials at the jury centre, sparking an emergency move to relocate all other jurors to another screen within the cinema complex before the trial could get under way.

The hitch happened as the second Greenock sheriff and jury trial since the pandemic began was due to take place.

A Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service spokesman said: "The court was advised, prior to the commencement of a jury trial earlier today, that a juror had been contacted by a family member and was required to self-isolate.

"The sheriff [Andrew McIntyre] was made aware and the juror was subsequently excused from his citation given the circumstances.

"All jury centres are fully cleaned each evening to the level required to deal with any potential infection — ensuring that the environment is as safe as it can be every day.

"In this case the jury trial was also relocated to another screen within the Odeon Cinema.

"These measures allowed the trial to commence just prior to lunchtime."

The Telegraph told earlier this month how screens have been installed in the court on Nelson Street which beam back pictures of jurors as they follow proceedings remotely at Braehead.

In-court cameras relay live footage of trials directly to panel members as the criminal justice system tries to recover from the Covid crisis which has resulted in a huge backlog of cases.

The court service spokesman said: "Those attending any court buildings are required to strictly observe two-metre physical distancing.

"The measures we have in place fully observe the relevant Public Health Scotland guidance to minimise all risks of virus transmission.

"Where any confirmed or suspected case is identified, including amongst jurors, a risk assessment is immediately carried out and will form the basis for any further necessary action to minimise risk."