A lesbian has been arrested by police in Scotland - for publicly having sex with a man.
Ross Welsh met openly-gay Leanne Richardson (pictured) while on a four-day
bender to celebrate his birthday, the Scottish Daily Record reports.
But the pair were formally detained by officers after local residents reported them for public indecency.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, they were both fined £200
after admitting a sexual breach of the peace. Dev Kapadia, prosecuting,
told the court the pair, both from Edinburgh, were caught at 4.10pm on
April 21. He said a woman alerted officers and when they turned into
the car park, they saw a pair of naked legs - and Welsh performing a
sex act.
Mr Kapadia added: "The officers asked Mr Welsh to stop but he
appeared not to hear, upon which they gently pulled the accused away
from Miss Richardson.
Unaware "At this point, Miss Richardson, who had her eyes closed,
suddenly realised police officers were present and got to her feet and
pulled up her clothing. The police officers indicated that both accused
had been drinking and were blissfully unaware that their actions had
been observed."
Richardson's solicitor, Nigel Bruce, said the mum-of-two had been
going through a period of depression and had turned to drink, the paper
reported.
Welsh's lawyer, David Taylor, said: "He is obviously mortified to
find himself in court at all and doubly so given the nature of the
case."
Sheriff Fiona Reith, QC, said the incident was on the "lower end of
the scale" and decided not to put them on the sex offenders' register.
Last night, Richardson revealed she was in a longterm relationship with girlfriend Josephine Samuel, 49.
She said she gave up on men after her previous partner - who she
wouldn't name - died and she met Josephine last year. The pair now
share a flat in Leith and Josephine insisted she has already forgiven
her lover for her indiscretion.
Leanne said: "It is no secret I am gay. After my ex-partner died I
said I would never be with another guy again, then I met Josephine.
Josephine is my partner, she is a pretty woman and I would never do
anything to hurt her."
Josephine said: "It doesn't matter what has happened, we will sort things out - I have forgiven her."