Car park sex act couple arrested - but woman's charge dropped after major twist

A couple engaged in a sex act at a retail park on a Saturday morning in front of horrified, a heard.

Adrian Matthew Reid, from Oldpark Avenue in North Belfast, was handed a four-month sentence which was suspended for two years on a charge of committing an act outraging public decency. The 38-year-old's co-accused also faced the same charge which was formally withdrawn last month following her death earlier this year.

During today's sentencing at Belfast Crown Court, it emerged the pair were arrested after a member of the public observed them engaging in a sexual act. At around 11am on August 3 last year, a male was driving his vehicle into Cityside Retail Park when he observed the behaviour.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

With his wife and one-year old son in the car, the motorist saw Reid sitting on a wall with his co-accused performing a sexual act. Whilst this was being carried out another male was lying unconscious on the ground beside Reid, reported

The motorist stopped his vehicle, approached Reid and told him to stop. Members of the public including children were also present in the carpark and whilst Reid was initially apologetic, he then became aggressive.

After Reid asked the motorist, 'Who do you think you are talking to?', he got back into his car and called the PSNI. When officers arrived at the scene, both Reid and his co-accused were arrested.

During a subsequent interview, Reid told police that he couldn't remember anything due to his alcohol intake but claimed he didn't believe he would engage in such behavior.

The father-of-one appeared at Belfast Crown Court in March when he was charged with and admitted committing an act of a lewd, obscene and disgusting nature and outraging public decency by engaging in a sexual act with another on August 3, 2024.

Following this, he spoke with a probation officer when he once again said he had no recollection of offending due to his level of intoxication. Defence barrister Mark Farrell handed a note to Judge Gilpin which set out Reid's caring responsibilities for his two uncles.

Saying Reid had experienced "difficult times", Mr Farrell said his client's offending "has reduced" and that Reid "appears to have turned things round a little" which includes a reduction in his alcohol consumption.

The judge said he had read and considered further defence submissions which set out Reid's "unsettled and traumatic childhood" and a decline in his mental health following the death of his sister.

Judge Gilpin also spoke of several aggravating factors regarding last August's incident and told Reid it occurred "in a busy place in the middle of the morning where children were present, albeit there is no evidence that any child witnessed your offending." He also told Reid: "You offending, thankfully, was short-lived."

Saying the custody threshold was passed, Judge Gilpin imposed a four-month prison sentence which he said he was willing to suspend for two years due to Reid's caring responsibilities for his two uncles.

Telling Reid he could remain at liberty "at the moment", Judge Gilpin warned him of the consequences of re-offending over the next two years. As he was walking from the dock, Reid addressed the Judge and said "thank you, Your Honour."