A WOMAN who performed a sex act on her on-off lover in front of children and passersby on a busy shopping street has appeared in court.

Footage of the incident on Bondgate in Darlington went viral in September when shocked members of the public filmed it and put it on social media.

Mother-of-three Nicola Simpson, 30, of Cumberland Street, in Darlington, admitted a charge of outraging public decency when she appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe.

Her co-accused Michael Gallagher received a suspended sentence when he appeared in court several weeks ago. Both had been drinking and taking drugs when they performed the sex act, just after 2pm on a Friday afternoon.

 

Paul Doney, prosecuting, said: “Mr Gallagher exposed his penis on three occasions in the middle of a public street, Bondgate, surrounded by numerous members of the public. The defendant then performed oral sex on him, to which the public, including children, were able to witness.”

Warren Ridley, mitigating on behalf of Simpson, said: “Miss Simpson initially said she was forced into the act but what happened was she went along with what was happening.

“It was an on-off relationship and he has been violent to her in the past. She submitted for the fear of possible violence but she accepts no threats were made.

“She had a few drinks in her at the time. She did have a problem with drink and illicit substances.”

A probation report found that Simpson was ‘attracted to negative males’ and had been a victim of significant domestic violence.

She was using cocaine at the time of the incident but was now clean, on a treatment programme, and was having regular hair strand tests to ensure she had not been taking drugs.

Miss Simpson told probation workers that she had gone shopping and ended up meeting Gallagher in the pub.

There he joked about making money by posting a sexually explicit video on the internet and tried to persuade her to take part.

 

Michael Gallagher was sentenced for outraging public decency

She was waiting for a taxi when he exposed himself and she performed a sex act on him.

She was described as a ‘vulnerable female’ with many problems including mental health issues, although she was working 70 hours a week in two jobs, in a factory and in a bar.

Simpson had made ‘some very poor choices’ on the day in question which had resulted in significant public humiliation after the video was posted on the internet, the court was told.

Mr Ridley added: “Miss Simpson is remorseful and ashamed of her actions. She accepts now she was a willing participant, if a little reluctant.”

“It is something she is deeply ashamed of. She is making steps to put her life in order, dealing with her drug and alcohol problems.”

Simpson was told she could have been jailed for the offence, but given her vulnerability and the steps she was taking to improve her life, she was instead given a 24-month community order and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.