A couple enraged a judge by kissing in the dock at Maidstone Crown Court. Posed by models.

by Keith Hunt

Two besotted lovers face being jailed for contempt - after they snogged in a court dock on Valentine's Day.

Dock officers attempted to keep Samson Paine and Karla Shaw apart as they went to embrace when remanded in custody.

But 24-year-old Shaw stood on a seat, threw her arms around stockily-built Paine's neck and planted a lingering kiss on his lips.

The passionate encounter came at Maidstone Crown Court after Shaw, of Manor Road, Chatham, admitted robbery and assault causing actual bodily harm and Paine, of no fixed address, admitted attempted robbery and possessing an offensive weapon, a knife.

Judge Charles Byers (pictured right) had admonished Paine, 25, for slouching and talking and asked for him to be taken to the cells.

A woman dock officer stepped between the couple, but Shaw was determined to kiss her boyfriend goodbye.

The unimpressed 63-year-old judge declared: "At the end of this case they will be sentenced for contempt. I am not having it. They misbehaved last time, they misbehaved this time. Unless I make a firm stand, that will go on."

Judge Byers told the couple: "I hope it was worth it."

Shaw cheekily replied: "You don't know how worth it that was. Happy Valentine's. Sorry." She told Paine: "I love you Sam."

After they were taken to the cells, Judge Byers told their lawyers: "You can tell them, with my felicitations, they can look forward to a consecutive sentence. They plainly have absolutely no respect."

"i was married for 15 years and didn't have a kiss like that..." – male barrister

A male barrister said afterwards: "It was a smacker of a kiss. I was married for 15 years and didn't have a kiss like that.”

Also in the dock was Christopher Stanford, 49, of Corporation Street, Rochester, who also admitted attempting to rob Huseyin Turkucu of cash on December 9 last year.

Shaw robbed a woman of cigarettes and cash and assaulted her on May 20 last year.

All three were remanded in custody and sentence was adjourned until February 22.