Two men were caught performing a sex act in a busy shopping centre.
Thomas Smurthwaite and Marc Stamp were caught engaging in the sex act in front of the urinals in the mens’ toilets in Eldon Garden, in Newcastle city centre.
A court heard the pair were spotted by the horrified manager of the centre at around 6pm in the evening.
The police were called and Smurthwaite, 23, of Stanley, and Stamp, 33, of Coulby Newham, in Middlesbrough, were interrupted and arrested.
Both men have been fined after pleading guilty to one charge each of engaging in sexual activity in a public lavatory at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court.
Lee Poppett, prosecuting, said the offence happened on Newcastle’s traditional late-night shopping day on Thursday, January 12, when there was a chance children could have walked in.
He said: ‘It’s blatant behaviour at 6pm in the evening. It’s in full view of the main area of the mens’ lavatories, in front of the urinals. It’s not an allegation that was contained in a cubicle.’
Mr Poppett added: ‘At around 6pm, a witness who is employed as a manager at Eldon Garden say he observed Smurthwaite walking into the male toilets on the ground-floor.
‘He says there has been suspicious activity by Smurthwaite in the past and he waits outside the toilets for a moment or two before entering.
‘He saw Smurthwaite and Stamp about a foot away from each other.’
Two men were caught performing a sex act in the communal area of public toilets in a busy Newcastle shopping centre. Brazen Thomas Smurthwaite and Marc Stamp were caught engaging in the intimate behavior in front of the urinals in the mens¿ lavatories in Eldon Garden. nA court heard the pair were spotted by the horrified manager of the centre at around 6pm in the evening, when there was a potential a child could have walked in. nThe police were called and Smurthwaite, 23, of Durham Road, Stanley, and Stamp, 33, of Blackthorn, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, were interrupted and arrested. Now, both men have been fined after pleading guilty to one charge each of engaging in sexual activity in a public lavatory at Newcastle Magistrates¿ Court. Thomas Smurthwaite leaving Newcastle magistrates court