Notorious dine-and-dash restaurant raiders have wound up back in the dock together to admit having sex near Arbroath harbour.
Kerry Anne Smith and Sean Dempsey returned to Forfar Sheriff Court where they each admitted a charge of public indecency committed on July 17 last year.
The carefree couple were spotted in the heat of the moment as they had sex on a grassy area and against a bench on Old Shore Head, close to the town’s pumping station.
Their noisy romp drew the attention of nearby residents, who snapped the couple and handed evidence over to police.
Smith has received a backdated prison sentence and Dempsey, who also pled guilty to other offences, will be sentenced in August.
Witnesses alerted by noise
Both Smith and Dempsey – listed in court papers as prisoners in Polmont and Perth respectively, admitted having sex in a public place while on bail.
Smith was on three bail orders from courts in Forfar, Dundee and Hamilton and Dempsey was on bail from courts in Forfar and Perth.
Prosecutor Stephanie Paterson said: “At 11.30pm on July 17 in 2024, the witnesses – partners – retired to bed.
“A short time later, they heard noises coming from outside and when they looked out of the window, the saw the accused kissing and having sexual intercourse against a bench and on an area of grass.”
Police attended but by the time officers arrived at the scene, the noisy couple had left.
They were identified through a photograph taken by one of the witnesses who saw their intimate encounter.
Further crimes
Dempsey also pled guilty to stealing a bicycle from a property in Glenogil Street, Montrose, on July 31 last year.
The owner of the bike’s grandmother spotted a photo of Dempsey riding it on social media and went to check if it had been taken.
Dempsey soon returned it and told her: “I am sorry for taking the bike.”
He also pled guilty to a third charge of threatening or abusive behaviour on August 10 last year at a home in Arbroath.
The resident of the house fled out the back when he heard Dempsey banging on the door at 10.30pm and sought refuge in a neighbour’s house.
From there, police were contacted and officers traced Dempsey and a woman inside the man’s Great Michael Street home.
Smith’s solicitor Nick Whelan said: “It was late at night, she was under the influence.”
Sheriff Mark Thorley jailed Smith, 35, for three months, backdated.
The sheriff released Dempsey, 42, on bail and ordered background reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing on August 7.
Dine-and-dash crimes
Smith and Dempsey hit headlines last summer when their dine-and-dash spree across Tayside gathered social media notoriety.
Between them, they fled without footing their unpaid bills totalling almost £700 from restaurants in Arbroath, Carnoustie, Dundee and Perth.
They each received prison sentences of eight months.
Smith received another prison sentence of 14 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court after being caught in the cocaine supply chain.
Police stumbled upon drugs worth thousands of pounds when they stopped the car she was in which was being driven erratically in Bothwell Road, Hamilton, at 3am.
She was caught again four months later running a heroin operation worth thousands of pounds in a bid to repay her debts.
For this, her sentence was extended by eight months.
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