Last updated at 13:17, Friday, 02 September 2011

A HAIRDRESSER was caught performing a sex act in a public toilet in broad daylight.

DAVID TILBURN

Furness Salon owner David Tilburn appeared at Furness Magistrates Court yesterday, charged with sexual activity in a public lavatory.

The 64-year-old, of Crellin Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty.

Mr David Mellor, prosecuting, told the court a man and his three-year-old son discovered Mr Tilburn and another man in the public toilets at Greenodd at 2pm on August 11.

The man had been on the way past with his family when his son said he needed the toilet.

The witness knew the area well, Mr Mellor said, and knew the toilets were often used as a meeting place for men committing sexual acts.

He had been talking deliberately loudly to his son, in a bid to let anyone who might be in the toilets know they were there.

When they walked in, there were two men in front of the urinal, in full view of them, committing a sex act.

Mr Mellor said the pair stopped, walked towards the door and left.

He said: “He (the witness) took his son to the toilet and his son was asking ‘What were them two men doing, daddy?” and he was at a loss as to what to say to his son.”

Tilburn admitted in police interview he was at the Greenodd toilets that afternoon.

He said he’d had something to eat and drink and needed the toilet.

Tilburn then recognised a man he knew only by name, saw him go into the toilet and went in after him. He then committed the sex act.

No words were exchanged, he said, and the meeting had not been planned.

Mr Mellor told the court that, in interview, Tilburn said the act only lasted a few seconds, and he was listening because he was concerned someone might spot him.

Mr Mellor said: “When he was asked if he’d ever done this before he declined to comment.

“He also declined to comment on whether he knew it was a place where people met for such activities.

“He said when he realised a child was present he was disgusted by what he’d done.”

Mr Graham Jackson, defending, told the court: “He (Tilburn) was ashamed he was discovered by a father with his son.

“He believed he had heard people approaching the lavatory and believed he had prevented them seeing the sexual activity.

“He is mortified that he should end up in court for an offence of this nature and I think it is that which provides you with a guarantee that Mr Tilburn won’t appear before you with a repetition of this behaviour.”

Mr Tilburn was fined £300.

He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and £15 victim compensation.

Presiding magistrate Melvyn Cooper said: “This was reprehensible behaviour. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.”

Mr Tilburn quietly said: “I am.”

First published at 13:08, Friday, 02 September 2011
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk