A child sex abuse trial was dramatically halted at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court after seats in the jury box collapsed.
Proceedings against the now convicted Kennedy Gray were temporarily delayed midway through his defence solicitor’s closing speech.
A portion of the jurors’ seats broke free from their supports before a member raised the alarm. Another section of the 15 seats has been wobbling for several weeks.
The jury trial was swiftly moved to a different court room in the building before proceedings recommenced on Thursday afternoon.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS), which is responsible for the building, has apologised and said repair work would be getting under way shortly.
The originally Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court building was constructed and opened in 1894 with a modern extension added in 1982.
It has been plagued with issues in recent months including a leaking roof in one court.
A radiator in a downstairs courtroom broke at the tail end of last year, sending water pouring into the custody cells below.
A portion of the public gallery was also cordoned off as a result of the water damage.
Concerns have also previously been raised about the layout of the building, which means witnesses and accused people sometimes have to pass each other on stairwells.
Construction work on a court annexe, which will be based at the police station on the nearby St Brycedale Avenue, is due to begin next month.
New courtroom space will be created while the short-term plan is to retain the existing court building at Whytescauseway with the hope of moving the court to the police station completely.
A SCTS spokesman said: “The Scottish Courts and Tribunals service apologises for any inconvenience caused.
“Business was immediately moved to another court room to ensure minimal disruption to the trial.
“The jury seating repair will be undertaken as soon as possible as will the repair to the defective radiator.”
He added: “Construction work at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court Annexe will begin next month and provide two new criminal courtrooms and a court custody unit at the existing Kirkcaldy police station building.
“The creation of the new courtrooms will improve efficiency and flexibility in managing day to day business increasing the number of courtrooms and providing improved accommodation for court users, including victims, witnesses and jurors.”
Kennedy Gray, 55, of Lundin Links, was found guilty of sexually assaulting two young girls at various addresses in Fife between 2011 and 2016. He will be sentenced at a later date.
