A businesswoman who exposed herself in public in front of a Waitrose supermarket was fined £200 after saying she was under stress owing to the downfall of her company amid the Covid epidemic.
On a Friday afternoon in Northwich, Cheshire, Beverley Dean, 54, acknowledged to exposing and performing a sex act on herself while sitting on a bench in full view.
Beverley Dean, 54, admits to performing a sex act in public and exposing herself.
During the event, a lady bringing her children along a riverbank street allegedly had to rush by Dean, who was seated with her shirt undone and jacket slung over her shoulders, for fear of being seen.
Two financial advisers working across the street ultimately noticed her and called the police.
When police came, they examine Dean’s luggage and find sex toys inside.
During investigations, eyewitnesses said that she looked to be photographing herself while touching herself under her skirt. However, no video was discovered on her mobile device.
Dean from Rudheath, Northwich faces prison time at the Chester magistrates court after pleading guilty to a charge of outraging public decency.
However, she went free with a fine and community order when her attorney said she was “too ashamed” to accept responsibility for her actions.
Her ex-husband, from whom she had separated after the outbreak, was in court to provide her with support.
Dean sat down on a seat overlooking the River Dane in Northwich at around 3.30 p.m. on February 25 of this year, according to court testimony.
Two ladies from the CRS Consultants office on the opposite side of the river observed her.
The prosecutor, Miss Shannen Carey, said, “She looked to be executing a sex act on herself.”
She held her cell phone in her right hand and looked to be recording or photographing herself while doing the deed.
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She paused to have a cigarette, after which she resumed.
After completing this action, she rose off the bench with both breasts exposed. The buttons on her blouse were undone, and her coat was dangling from her shoulders.
‘One of the members of the public said a woman walked past with two young boys and hurried them along to avoid looking at what was happening.
Officers were summoned, and the suspect was apprehended.
‘Her property was searched and an assortment of sex toys and lubricants were found in the defendant’s bag.’
Dean had no previous convictions.
Defence solicitor, Mr Shane O’Neill, said he believed that she had found it difficult to come to terms with what she had done and was finding it difficult to discuss it.
‘When I attended the police station following her arrest, she initially denied the matter,’ Mr O’Neill said, ‘She said the same to police as to the probation service.
‘I genuinely think that she is not trying to mess people around. She is just finding the whole situation embarrassing. She is horrified by what she did.
‘Her ex-husband has been very supportive and he has come along with her. He has been a great help.’
Saying that Dean and her husband had previously had a business which went ‘belly up’ during the pandemic, Mr O’Neill said that despite her denials to the probation service she had demonstrated a willingness to explore issues related to her consequential thinking skills.
‘She has not felt it easy to discuss this matter with myself,’ the solicitor said, ‘She had never even had a parking ticket when she suddenly commits this type of offence. Surely this is something that the probation service can explore.
Dean was ordered to complete a 12-month community order and pay £180 in costs
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Dean was ordered to complete a 12-month community order and pay £180 in costs
‘Something must have happened in her life for this to happen at 54 years of age. If you are doing something there is a build up to it. Maybe she has done it before, or has practised it in the past.
‘She had a business with her husband that went belly up. That put pressure on the relationship and the relationship split up. Though they are still good friends.
‘Her life has been disheveled before and after this incident. She has been staying with various friends and is now hoping to rebuild her life as she has got some accommodation coming up soon.
‘She knows there is a problem going on and does accept that she will work with the probation service. The offences were witnessed by some office workers and they called the police.
‘I didn’t think that it went on for a lengthy period of time, though you may think differently. There is no statement from mothers of children to say that their children have been affected by it.
‘She does want to express her full-hearted remorse for the whole scenario and wants to put the matter behind her. She guarantees there won’t be a repetition of the incident.’
Sentencing Dean, District Judge Nicholas Sanders said: ‘First of all you did plead guilty and you have no previous convictions which are very much in your favour.
‘It did worry me when I read the report that you were maintaining an ongoing denial but on the basis that you now accept what you did and are prepared to work with the probation service I will follow their recommendation.
‘None of us in the court today knows what on earth you were doing on that day.
‘It might be because of a load of stress, it might be because of lots of things. You need to be open and honest with the probation service.’
Dean was also ordered to complete a 12-month community order with 30 days of rehabilitation activity and pay £180 in costs and victim surcharge.