A COUPLE caught having sex in a Wetherspoons pub toilet appeared in court this morning, where they were fined by magistrates. Both had to be pepper sprayed by police during the incident.

Lee Hopps, 30, and Hayley McClory, 23, were arrested at the Stanley Jefferson pub, in Bishop Auckland, on January 28. 

The pair, who are no longer a couple, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court this morning (July 10).

Michael Rose, prosecuting, told the court the pair had been drinking in the pub since about 3pm and at about 8.30pm a member of staff was told that a man and woman were in the female toilets.

"A member of staff went to the female toilets and naturally drew the obvious conclusion as to what was going on and asked those inside to turn out," he said.

"They would not do so and words were addressed, I believe by Mr Hopps, from the toilet to 'f*** off' and threats were addressed to [the staff member]."

Mr Rose said the police were then called and two special constables also tried to persuade them to leave.

"In their turn they tried to persuade them to come out and leave but they would not so eventually one of the officers said he was going to enter and the toilets," he added.

"He pushed the door open and Mr Hopps comes out in an aggressive manner, approaching the officer in a manner that he appears to fear for his safety so he has drawn his spray and directs it towards Mr Hopps who is then taken to the ground and arrested."

Mr Rose said Hopps, of Farm Close, Bishop Auckland, continued to struggle and abuse with the officers while McClory, of Percy Street, Bishop Auckland, then also came out of the cubicle.

He said: "Miss McClory comes out of the toilet in a somewhat distressed condition, she's half naked and her trousers are around her legs.

"She moves towards one of the officers in a similar aggressive manner and she too is sprayed with incapacitant.

"Despite that there's a struggle with the officers.

"Other officers arrive and eventually both are removed - Miss McClory to be fair to her refused to get dressed, though invited to do so and has to be carried out partially naked by the officers."

Mr Rose said McClory also destroyed a blanket, worth about £10, at the police station.

Andrew Clinton, mitigating, said: "It's an unusual case, not one we deal with on a daily basis."

He said his clients could not recall much of the incident and at the time were "in the middle of a break down in the relationship" which had lasted for eight years.

Magistrate, Stephen Bowser, fined both Hopps and McClory.

In the case of Hopps, who pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and obstructing a constable in their duty, he was fined a total of £567 while McClory, who pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and criminal damage, was fined a total of £205.46.

Outside court, when asked if he regretted the incident, Hopps said: "Do I f***. Why would I regret what I did?"