TWO young Brierley Hill men involved in making a Michael Jackson moonwalk video as they waited to give evidence in an assault trial have been given a ticking off by a judge.

Shea Taylor filmed his friend Aaron Whittle as he held his groin to do the dance made famous by the late singer while they were in the witness room at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The two men then posted the video on Facebook before going in to face the jury and give evidence in the case against Luke Walker and co-defendant Luke Seeley.

The pair had both denied assaulting an 18-year-old in the Tenth Lock public house in Brierley Hill causing him actual bodily harm.

But, as a result of the film, the credibility of the two witnesses was damaged and Judge John Warner directed not guilty verdicts should be returned in the case as he discharged the jury.

The judge then warned Taylor and Whittle they could face criminal proceedings and be charged with contempt and he advised them both to seek legal advice.

But when Taylor and Whittle were called back before the court the judge ruled that after giving the matter careful consideration he had decided no further action should be taken.

He told the two men: "What you admitted doing was an extremely stupid thing even though it was in the privacy of the witness room.

"The taking of pictures or videos in court is against the law and it made you both liable to prosecution for contempt of court.

"If the contempt of court had been proved it could have meant you being locked up. What you did was one of the reasons the case was abandoned by the prosecution.

"However, I have reflected on this and given your ages and that there was nothing sinister about what you did I have decided, exceptionally, that the matter should go no further.

"If anything like this happens again it will not be treated in the same way."

Walker, aged 26, of Gayfield Avenue, and 26-year-old Seeley, of Channon Drive, both Withymoor Village, Brierley Hill, both walked free from the court after the direction by the judge.

Afterwards Walker, who had been convicted of killing his girlfriend in Greece, spoke of his relief at being cleared on the assault charge .

In Crete - he had denied a charge of GBH leading to the death of 20-year-old Chelsea Hyndman but after a two day trial he was found guilty.

Walker has issued an appeal against the conviction, which is due to be heard by three top Greek judges next spring.