A randy couple who risked imprisonment for engaging in sexual activity in full view of numerous families at a historic tourist attraction thanked a judge as they were spared jail. Rebecca Williams, 44, and her 50-year-old partner Michael Burns sparked fury when they started having intercourse beside a tree while parents and grandparents were enjoying a Bank Holiday excursion with their youngsters.
Throughout the episode, furious witnesses yelled, “You are disgusting – pull your pants up. There are children here!” before collecting their little ones and departing. Yet despite the scolding, the brazen pair chuckled before returning to a bench where they had been spotted snogging “passionately” mere moments before.
When officers arrived at the Grade II listed Grosvenor Park in Chester, mum-of-one Williams declared: “Mike, this is your fault”. She then said to police: “You’re just mean, I did not want to do stuff like that. I am not that type of person.”
Upon arrest Burns admitted: “Oh, for f*** sake. Fair enough. Do not bother with an interview. I am guilty.” Investigations showed both had been consuming alcohol heavily leading up to the episode.
At Chester magistrates court Williams and Burns, both from Wrexham, North Wales, faced six months behind bars after being found guilty of outraging public decency.
However, both said, “thank you” to District Judge Jack McGarva as they received 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. They were each ordered to pay £300 costs and a £154 surcharge.
Burns was also ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation. In delivering the sentence, the judge said: ”You have been found guilty of quite appalling behaviour in Grosvenor Park when there were lots of families and people around. I am quite certain this behaviour has come about due to you being off your head on drink.
“People should not have to put up with witnessing this kind of behaviour. ”.
The incident took place on April 19 last year when the duo visited the 20-acre park named after the 2nd Marquis of Westminster Richard Grosvenor, who gifted the former fields to the people of Chester in the 19th century and funded a renovation. The park is traditionally known for its ornamental gardens, medieval arches and timber-framed park-keeper’s lodge.
Eyewitness Sophie Williams, 38, a mum-of-one who was visiting with her family, recounted at an earlier hearing: ”I saw them sitting on a bench when we walked into the park. They were passionately kissing and there were quite a lot of other people looking at them – I noticed she had quite a bright cardigan whilst he had a rainbow jacket.
”He went to a nearby tree, I assumed to have a wee – but she then followed. We then started playing football before my sister said: ‘They are having sex now’.
“I turned around to see him with his pants down to his ankles with all his bits hanging out. I was in disbelief.
“It was busy, it was a bank holiday and there were a lot of children around. Other parents began scooping up their children and walking away when they saw what was happening.”
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