Niki Lawrence.
A DRUNKEN festival reveller arrested after romping on a beach with a woman yards away from shocked beach-goers has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
Appearing before Island magistrates yesterday (Monday), Niki Lawrence, 28, pleaded guilty to outraging public decency by simulating a sex act.
He was arrested with Emma Martin, 22, of Northern Ireland. However, Miss Martin had not answered bail and had not been charged at this stage, the court heard.
Lawrence, a heating engineer, of Palace View, Croydon, was arrested after police were called to Sandown beach at 2pm on Saturday, June 12, said Ann Smout, prosecuting.
The owner of the nearby Driftwood Bar, Sean Ware, was among the witnesses, according to Mrs Smout.
In a statement, Mr Ware said he saw the defendant lying on top of the woman in the missionary position, before moving his head down to her groin area, moving her thong to one side and appearing to perform oral sex.
Fellow witness Claire Arrowsmith said she felt shocked and violated by the couple’s behaviour, close to children and families enjoying the beach.
Robert Twell, for Lawrence, said his client had been at the Isle of Wight Festival and was staying at a hotel in Sandown, where Miss Martin had also been staying.
He said his client, who was charged with simulating a sex act but denied actually performing the act, had been drinking the previous day, during the night and the next morning, and had been upset after an argument with his girlfriend on the phone.
He said Lawrence went for what he thought was a 'totally innocent’ walk on the beach with Miss Martin.
"In the witness statements it talks of her dancing around like a stripper and massaging her body.
"His judgement damaged by drink and also by being upset by the fall out with his girlfriend, he succumbed to Miss Martin’s enticements," said Mr Twell, who added that his client was ashamed of his actions.
Magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order, with 200 hours of unpaid work and £80 costs.