Woman guilty of sex act at war memorial

A drunken woman has been convicted of urinating and performing a sex act on a man at Blackpool's memorial to Britain's war dead. Resort magistrates heard how police were called to the Cenotaph near North Pier one night in June this year after CCTV operators told them a woman was relieving herself on the monument. When officers arrived they found Wendy Lewis performing a sex act on a man sat on the tribute – which continued as bemused police watched.

PC Jamie Robinson told the court: "It was 5am when I and a colleague were sent to the war memorial in a police van. When I arrived I saw a male with scraggly hair with an orange bag and a female I recognised as Wendy Lewis. They didn't realise we'd arrived." PC Robinson added that Lewis was arrested on the spot and admitted urinating on the Cenotaph.



The officer said the defendant initially denied committing the sex act but later admitted it and apologised. A 15-minute DVD of the events was shown to court showing the incident which took place while cyclists and members of the public passed by. Lewis failed to show up at the morning hearing and was convicted in her absence. When she finally showed up some time later she was given a guard of dishonour into the building by veterans who had gathered on the court steps.

The case was adjourned by magistrates while pre-sentence reports are prepared on the defendant. Jim Mowbray, prosecuting, said: "This offence has attracted a great of anger particularly amongst servicemen and women and their families. It shows a complete lack of respect." David Charnley, defending, added: "She had been drinking but now realises the seriousness of what she has done and how much offence she has caused the wider public."