Mother-of-two fined for afternoon sex on playground swing

A mother-of-two has been fined for causing distress to children after they saw her appearing to have sex on a playground swing. Drunken and bare-legged Laura Green was arrested along with Oliver Phipps after a shocked teenager called the police, believing they were having sex in Bewbush Neighbourhood Park, Crawley, West Sussex. Green, 22, denied they had been having sexual intercourse but admitted it would have looked that way to passers-by. The offence took place as children flocked to the playground, off Breezehurst Drive, after school on the afternoon of June 9.



Dawn Walmsley, prosecuting, said Green and Phipps, 27, were seen lying in a large disc-shaped swing, drinking alcohol and playing music. "Two 17-year-old boys were playing football in the tennis court and saw the defendants lying on the swing," she told Horsham Magistrates' Court on Monday. The teens saw Phipps on top of Miss Green, grinding his groin against hers. "His tracksuit bottoms were pulled right down, revealing his buttocks," Mrs Walmsley added.

The court was told that children were heard shouting "come and see – they are having sex". One of the 17-year-olds was disgusted and called police. Green and Phipps' behaviour continued for some time – until police arrived and observed they were "extremely drunk and smelling of urine". Both had difficulty standing up and Phipps was holding Green's leggings in his hand. When interviewed, Green, of Chippendale Road, Broadfield, denied they were having sex and said Phipps had simply been lying on top of her.



Rod Hayler, defending, said Green had an alcohol problem at the time and was "oblivious to her surroundings". He said: "She accepts the incident was highly inappropriate. She was not intending to cause alarm or distress. There was no sexual act. But she fully accepts how it could have been misinterpreted." Mr Hayler added that Green had since stopped drinking. Chairman of the bench Alan Hardy ordered Green to pay fines and costs totalling £175 after she pleaded guilty to causing a disturbance in public. Phipps, of The Acorns, Broadfield, is due in court on November 17 to face the same charge.