A MOTHER-of-two and her binge-drinking boyfriend have been banned from going out at night after being caught on camera having oral sex beside stacked shelves in a community post office.

The lewd encounter involving Antoinette Liddell, 34, and Matthew Farrell, 31, in McColl’s store on Bondgate, Ripon, was discovered after late shift supervisor Sam Allen’s suspicions were aroused on overhearing noise they made.

Harrogate Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday that when the couple left the shop at 9.20pm on July 30, Ms Allen reviewed the in-store CCTV footage and was horrified to discover film of the sex act.

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McColl's in Bondgate, Ripon

Katy Varlow, prosecuting, said: “The CCTV showed Mr Farrell with his trousers around his ankles and Miss Liddell performing oral sex on him.”

Liddell and Farrell, both of Ripon, stood with bowed heads as magistrates agreed the footage from the shop, located at the centre of a residential area, was too graphic to be shown on the screen in court.

Mrs Varlow added: “The member of staff was disgusted by what she saw. It was distressing.”

The court was told it had been St Wilfrid’s Day - a day when Ripon residents celebrate the city’s patron saint, and that the couple had started drinking at noon.

Liddell had been dealing with emotional issues, while Farrell had drunk excessively.

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In early August, as it emerged police were investigating the incident, regular customers of the community shop, which is understood to have a floor area of about 15m by 7m, spoke of their shock.

Magistrates heard the jobless pair had been in a relationship for nearly a year and feared being sent to prison over the offence.

Clive Farndon, mitigating, said: “Both Mr Farrell and Miss Liddell have said they feel deeply ashamed and embarrassed by their conduct on this occasion, so much so they have not touched a drop of alcohol since."

Magistrates sentenced both Liddell and Farrell to a 12-month community order, including a 12-week 7pm to 7am curfew at their homes, and a £170 fine. Farrell was also told to attend a ten-day rehabilitation course.