A couple who had sex in a McDonald’s drive-thru while waiting for their food have narrowly avoided a jail sentence.
Swansea Crown Court heard Lisa Gray, 28, and Rhys Higgins, 24, romped for 20 minutes in a car right outside a serving window at the fast food chain’s outlet in Morriston.
Prosecutor Craig Jones said restaurant staff had been left sickened and disgusted by the pair’s 4.30am sex session.
He said: “After ordering their food it was clear to employees that both Gray and Higgins were under the influence of drink and the manager straight away phoned the police.
“There was a delay with their meals because there was a problem with the grill equipment.
“While they waited, both Gray and Higgins were seen to embrace and kiss one another.
“Gray then places her hand in the lap of Higgins before both can be seen looking into the serving window.
“She then proceeds, with encouragement, to carry out an act of oral sex….before she stretches out and raises her legs. She then leans out of the driver’s window to allow for more space before Higgins ends up virtually on top of her.”
Following their arrest, Gray later told police she was brushing spilt cigarette ash off her as well as looking for dropped coins on the passenger floor.
However, restaurant bosses handed over CCTV footage to detectives before the pair pleaded guilty to outraging public decency.
In mitigation, Gray’s barrister John Hipkin said his client was deeply ashamed of her actions that morning on May 6.
“They have had devastating consequences for her,” he added.
And representing her co-defendant, David Singh said: “Mr Higgins realises how wholly inappropriate his actions were and is appalled of his behaviour.”
Mr Singh also said the incident saw Higgins, who was out on licence from prison for drugs offences, recalled to jail for 28 days.
After watching the CCTV footage of the incident, Judge Paul Thomas blasted both Gray and Higgins for their immature behaviour.
He cleared the court after the footage was deemed too explicit to be shown in public.
Judge Thomas said: “Your animalistic lust for one another caused you to abandon every possible shred of dignity and self respect.
“The two of you turned yourselves and your car into a human zoo.”
The court also heard that Gray, of Pentregethin Road, Swansea, was only just below the drink drive limit when arrested – with a reading of 33 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Following early guilty pleas from both defendants, Judge Thomas decided against immediate jail. Instead, he opted to give both defendants a four month prison sentence suspended for a year.
He added: “There have been direct consequences (for the both of you) following this episode.
“No doubt the adverse publicity in the case will have also prompted public ridicule and disgust.
“You have both come very close to losing your liberty. If you commit any offences in the next 12 months you will return to this court before me and I will send you straight to prison.”
Gray, of Pentrechwyth, will also be subject to a 9pm to 7am curfew for the next four months.
Higgins, of Ravenhill, was handed a 35 day rehabilitation order and must attend five alcohol activity sessions.
Both defendants will also have to pay £900 in court costs.
Gray and Higgins declined to comment as they left court.