Amidst the serene backdrop of a coastal town, an unexpected spectacle caught the eyes of passers-by.
Whitley Bay (Image: -)
A woman has been jailed after she was spotted having sex in broad daylight outside shops in a popular seaside town.
Rachel Hardy-Gent had her breasts exposed and was naked from the waist down, when she was first spotted writhing around by a passing delivery driver.
He was stunned that they were engaging in the intimate act in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, just a short distance from the beach front where children regularly play with their buckets and spades.
A court heard that the pair were in full view of passers-by and those using Park View Shopping Centre, so the police were called to arrest 41-year-old Hardy-Gent.
An autumn walk in the sunshine along Whitley Bay beach from Spanish City to St Mary’s Lighthouse and (Image: ChronicleLive)
Hardy-Gent, of Slatyford, has now been jailed for 16 weeks after she pleaded guilty to outraging public decency, possession of an offensive weapon and breaching a suspended sentence.
James Long, prosecuting at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, said a delivery driver was dropping off goods at Park View Shopping Centre and was travelling down the trade entrance when he spotted Hardy-Gent and the man romping.
Mr Long said: “They were lying on the floor having sex. This defendant is said to be naked from the waist down. She also had her chest exposed. The male in question had his trousers and underwear pulled down, clearly having sex.
Rachel Hardy-Gent, who has been jailed for outraging public decency (Image: ncjMedia Ltd)
“It was plainly in sight of members of the public passing and could be seen by people using the shopping centre. The police became involved and the defendant was arrested. She was taken into custody and searched and, in her bra, a jagged end of a bottle was found, like the broken neck of a bottle of wine.”
The court heard that Hardy-Gent, who used to live in Carlisle and had only recently moved to the North East, had a whopping 58 offences on her record.
Mark Styles, defending, said Hardy-Gent wanted to be sent to prison for her own benefit.
He added: “She drank so much alcohol on the day in question she blacked out and has no idea how she ended up outside the shopping centre. She had the glass bottle for her own protection but had no intention of using it.
