A young Queensland couple were caught on CCTV having sex three times in a courtroom foyer on June 28 while waiting for the woman to appear before a judge.
The 19-year-old woman, Shameka Julie Leeding, was scheduled to appear before a judge at Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 28 for an unrelated matter. She was accompanied by her partner Jake James Quinn, 20.
However, The Chronicle reported that police prosecutor Cameron Francis said the couple were instead captured by CCTV around 9:40 a.m. kissing "vigorously" before having sexual intercourse. They were stopped twice by staff before continuing after the workers left the place.
Leeding was first seen lifting up her skirt and sitting on Quinn, moving up and down on his lap. The couple quickly stopped what they were doing after security approached them. Leeding got off Quinn, who attempted to cover himself. However, once the officer left them, they continued again.
Francis narrated how Quinn exposed himself as Leeding adjusted her skirt while sitting on his lap. Both were interrupted again but they got back at it for the third time after the staff left. "For a third time the couple were approached, again by security, and Leeding quickly stood up and held her arms out in an attempt to block the view of the security guard while Quinn attempted to cover himself up," Francis added.
The couple then left the waiting area, with members of the public less than 5 meters away. The court heard the young pair were easily identified by CCTV and were immigrants issued notices to appear in court on June 30. Quinn and Leeding pleaded guilty on Friday to indecent acts in any place the public is permitted access.
According to solicitor Nathan Bouchier, Quinn's actions "weren't planned," and he "wasn't thinking" of how inappropriate their actions were. Quinn is said to be looking for full-time employment, having completed a construction traineeship, and had two scheduled job interviews. Meanwhile, Leeding's solicitor Ryan McCullough said that the only explanation for the couple's behavior was due to "exuberance of youth."
The couple were sentenced to 60 hours of community service each, with no convictions recorded. Magistrate Clare Kelly described the offense as "outrageous behavior," she claimed she had never heard of such an incident happening at a courthouse. "In a disrespectful manner you've taken into the public arena a very private act," Kelly said to the couple.