As they waited for the woman to go before the judge, a young pair was caught on camera engaging in three acts of sex.
With the assistance of her lover Jake James Quinn, 20, Shameka Julie Leeding, 19, from Queensland, was scheduled to appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 28, 2022 for an unrelated crime.
The duo was instead seen on CCTV at 9.40 a.m. kissing ‘vigorously’ before engaging in sexual activity, according to police prosecutor Cameron Francis, according to The Chronicle.
Staff twice halted them before they could proceed after the workers had left the area.
On the first occasion, Leeding was observed sitting on Quinn’s lap with her skirt lifted and sliding up and down.
When security reached them, the two immediately halted what they were doing.
They resumed their work, nevertheless, when the officer had left.
As Mr. Francis said while seated on his lap, Leeding adjusted her skirt while Quinn exposed himself.
They were interrupted once more, but as soon as the staff had departed, they resumed their conversation.
When security approached the couple a third time, Leeding ‘immediately stood up and stretched her arms out in an attempt to hide the security guard’s vision while Quinn tried to cover himself up,’ according to Mr. Francis.
After sitting about 5m away from members of the public, the couple eventually left the waiting room.
The two were given orders to appear in court on June 30 after being quickly recognised by CCTV, the court was informed.
The two entered a guilty plea to indecent act at any area where the general public has access on Friday.
Quinn’s acts “weren’t planned,” according to lawyer Nathan Bouchier, and the unemployed labourer “wasn’t thinking” about how wrong their actions were.
He asserted that his client was looking for full-time work, had just finished a construction traineeship, and would soon be attending two job interviews.
The only explanation for the couple’s behaviour, according to Ryan McCullough, the solicitor for Leeding, is that they were overpowered by the “exuberance of youth.”
Magistrate Clare Kelly called the offence “outrageous behaviour” and said she had never heard of such an occurrence occurring at a courthouse.
“In a disrespectful fashion, you’ve put into the public arena a very private act,” Ms. Kelly said to the couple.
Without any convictions being noted, they were each given a sentence of 60 hours of community service.