TWO men and a woman have been sentenced for taking part in an outrageous alfresco three way sex session on the picturesque banks of a North-East river.

Police were called after shocked passers-by saw the drunken incident between Jamie-Leigh Turnbull, 20, 19-year-old Sean Oliver and Anthony Price, 22, near the River Wear, in Durham City.

Blair Martin, prosecuting, at Consett Magistrates Court, said police were called at 9pm on June 26 after receiving complaints.

He said: “The female was lying on a bench with her trousers around her ankles."

All three have been given three year conditional discharges for their part in the sexual activity after pleading guilty to outraging public decency.

Mr Martin said: “People were reviled by what they had seen.”

Turnbull, of Wakenshaw Road, Gilesgate, Durham, was jailed for a total of 35 weeks on August 12 after admitting assaulting police who came to arrest them and a racially aggravated public order act as well as the implementation of six suspended sentences for thefts committed between August 25, 2011, and September 11, 2012.

Oliver, of Redwood, Esh Winning, was also given a three year conditional discharge on July 23 after admitting failing to leave the area where the sex act took place when previously instructed to do so by police.

Paul Donoghue, mitigating for Price, of Fairview, Witton Gilbert, said: “It is no more than having a bit too much to drink. The opportunity presented itself, albeit a foolish one.”

Price was jailed today (Thursday, September 19) for a total of 24 weeks for assaulting two police officers when he was arrested while drunk in a separate incident in Sacriston on May 25.

His solicitor said an appeal against his custodial sentence would be lodged.