Facing jail, couple who had sex in pizza shop
A COUPLE who had sex in a Domino’s pizza takeaway shop were found guilty yesterday of outraging public decency.
Daniella Hirst, 29, and Craig Smith, 31, were waiting for a 12-inch stuffed crust pizza when they let their ‘exuberant spirits get the better of them’, a court heard.
An 18-minute CCTV video showing Hirst performing a sex act on Smith while members of staff prepared food at the shop in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, was shown to the court.
The couple then had sex against the counter in the corner of the takeaway, just feet away from workers.
Hirst, who arrived in court wearing a short pink dress and black tights, sat with her hands over her eyes as the most explicit parts of the film were shown.
She previously described her behaviour as ‘ horrendous’ and said she ‘cringed’ when watching the clip during a police interview.
Her lawyer said her ‘ dirty laundry has been aired in public’.
Hirst pleaded guilty to ‘committing an act outraging public decency by behaving in an indecent manner’ after the pizza shop encounter, which took place on February 25 last year.
Smith was found guilty in his absence as he is on remand for other offences. The couple, from Bridlington, East Yorkshire, now face a maximum of six months in prison or a fine.
Prosecuting, Neil Holdsworth, said: ‘This charge is committing an act outraging public decency by behaving in an indecent manner. This case is about an occasion where the two defendants engaged in sexual activity in a Domino’s pizza outlet which was open to the public, with members of staff present.’ Defending, Scott McLaughlin, attempted to have the CCTV footage thrown out, but his application was rejected by Scarborough magistrates.
He told the court the incident happened after the pair had been drinking and celebrating Smith’s birthday.
In mitigation, he said: ‘ This case speaks for itself. Clearly, they were in drink and let their exuberant spirits get the better of them.
‘There is nothing sinister in relation to the acts themselves, they are quite guarded. They have not been brazen in their actions. Miss Hirst’s dirty laundry has been aired in public.’
Magistrate Angela Beardshall said: ‘A great deal of the acts were lewd, obscene and disgusting. Members of staff were present and the defendants could not be sure that members of the public would not enter the premises.
‘We view this offence as so serious that it passes the custody threshold. Members of the public should not have to put up with this disgusting behaviour.’ The magistrates adjourned the case for reports until October 17.