Couple engaged in 'repulsive' sex act in front of children at Paloma Faith concert in Hyde Park, court told

Simon Murphy and Lisanne Beck arrive at the Old Bailey
Anthony Devlin/PA
Tom Marshall10 August 2015
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A couple went "beyond the bounds of public decency" by allegedly indulging in a sex act in front of families at a Paloma Faith concert in Hyde Park, a jury has been told.

Lisanne Beck, 47, and her boyfriend Simon Murphy, 48, were filmed on a mobile phone locked in alleged lewd behaviour at the concert staged by BBC Radio 2 on September 14 last year, the Old Bailey heard.

The pair have pleaded not guilty to behaving indecently by engaging in sexual activity including oral sex.

Prosecutor Tom Cleeve told the jury the alleged act was seen by nearby members of the public and went "beyond the bounds of public decency".

One onlooker noticed that "other people were getting upset" and there was a young girl who was being "shielded" from it.

The prosecutor claimed the couple were "worse for wear" and seemed to be drunk. It appears that Beck "undid his shorts" and carried out a sex act, Mr Cleeve said.

Security were then called and the couple were ejected from the event.

Beck, a hospitality waitress, and Murphy, a gardener, both of Swansea, deny a charge of outraging public decency.

Beck insists she was just trying to wake up Murphy as they sat on the ground together.

Murphy has claimed that he was completely unaware of anything indecent happening, the court was told.

The alleged incident happened while Murphy was lying on the ground and Beck had returned to the area, the court heard.

The couple were later arrested and questioned by police. Mike Holden, who took the video clip on his phone, told the court that he was "shocked" by what he saw.

He said: "It was a family event in the middle of the day. It did not seem to be reasonable behaviour. There was a significant amount of embarrassment and trying to divert attention.

"There was one lady who came and actually slapped the lady on her back to try and bring her to her senses ... There was genuine embarrassment as to what we were seeing in Hyde Park."

He said people ranging from eight-year-olds to adults were among the crowd.

Mr Holden said the initial behaviour was "amusing" but it continued and "in my mind a line was crossed that definitely went beyond reasonable behaviour in public".

Mr Holden said that Murphy did not seem to be an active part in what was happening but that he was convinced that something lewd had taken place.

He said: "It was upsetting to a degree, repulsive to a degree and offensive would be appropriate also."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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