ROSALIND FITZGERALD CAUGHT PERFORMING SEXUAL ACT IN PUBLIC AT 8:45 AM IN BIRTLEY
A woman who was caught performing a sex act with another woman in a shop doorway and went on to assault a police officer in another incident has dodged jail.Sarah Crawford was heavily intoxicated after attending an all-night party when she was involved in a "sex act" with Rosalind Fitzgerald near a store on York Road, in Birtley.
A court heard that the pair took part in the sex act at 8.45am and in full view of members of the public.
Children were also said to be in the area.
But as previously reported in ChronicleLive, Crawford was again in trouble with the police in June following an outburst in Durham city centre.
The 40-year-old assaulted a police officer after throwing items of shop stock in the street.
When she was taken to a police cell, she "defecated" inside it, causing damage.
Newcastle Magistrates' Court previously heard that on December 11 last year, police received reports that Crawford and Fitzgerald were "engaging in sexual activity" in Birtley.
Chike Anieto, prosecuting, said: "Children were present in the area.
A witness says it was the other party and the defendant performing a sex act.
"The defendant then proceeded to urinate.
Following this incident police attended and arrested the defendant.
There were extensive calls to police by other members of the public about what was going on in the area." At a hearing in May, Fitzgerald was given a 12-month community order and fined £120 for her involvement in the bizarre incident.
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On Friday, Crawford, of no fixed address, appeared at Peterlee Magistrates' Court to be sentenced for outraging public decency, a public order offence, criminal damage, and assaulting a police officer.
She had pleaded guilty to the offences.
She was sentenced to four months prison, suspended for 12 months.
She was also given 25 rehabilitation activity days, which must be completed in six months.
She was also fined and ordered to pay compensation.
Crawford previously told magistrates that she no longer wants to drink alcohol, saying: "I no longer want that life anymore".
She was said to be "embarrassed and sorry" for her offending.
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