Couple had sex in police car park

The court heard Leanne Richardson had been extremely drunk

An amorous couple have been fined for having sex in broad daylight - in a police station car park.

Leanne Richardson, 26, and Ross Welsh, 30, had to be physically stopped mid sex act by officers from Portobello police station in Edinburgh.

They both pleaded guilty to committing a breach of the peace in the car park on 21 April and were fined £200.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard they were both very drunk and had met in a pub just a few hours before.

The court heard officers at Portobello police station were stunned when a woman came to the front desk and told them there was a naked man in the car park behind their building.

As the officers left to investigate, an elderly man gesticulated towards the car park and arriving there the officers saw a man performing a sex act with a woman.

Fiscal Depute Dev Kapadia said: "As soon as the police realised what was happening they requested the two to stop, but it would appear Mr Welsh did not hear them and continued. At this point police officers pulled him away from Miss Richardson."

'Sought solace'

He added: "Miss Richardson, who had her eyes closed, suddenly realised the police officers were present and got up to her feet and pulled up her clothing."

Mr Kapadia said the couple had both been drinking and were "blissfully unaware that their actions had been observed by passers-by".

Appearing for Richardson, a mother of two, solicitor Nigel Bruce said at the time of the incident she had been suffering from depression and had "sought solace in alcohol". He said she had been extremely drunk.

Defence agent for Welsh, David Taylor, said the incident occurred three days after Welsh's birthday.

He had been drinking heavily over the three days. He had planned to go to the library to access some on-line material, but could not get it until 3 pm and had "unwisely gone for more drink".

Mr Taylor said Welsh got into conversation with Richardson and in their drunken state they had gone and engaged in the disgraceful behaviour which had caused alarm to members of the public.

His client, he added, had no previous convictions and "was mortified, perhaps doubly so given the nature of the offence".

Sheriff Fiona Reith fined the couple, but said they did not need to be entered on the sex offenders register.