(From http://thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article594932.ece)
A TEENAGER who tried to have sex with the PAVEMENT in a busy street claimed yesterday it was a drunken prank — and escaped being put on the sex offenders’ list.
Motorists looked on in shock as Steven Marshall, 18, hauled down his trousers and started to simulate sex on the floor.
Marshall — drinking while taking pills for arthritis — also carried out a vile sex act in front of a horrified female taxi driver in Galashiels, Selkirkshire.
He admitted a charge of public indecency at Selkirk Sheriff Court and got 12 months probation.
Sheriff Drummond commented: “This was bizarre. Anyone who lies on the road in the daylight, is significantly intoxicated and is partially undressed has a problem.”
But Marshall will NOT be put on the sex offenders’ register after Sheriff Drummond accepted the June offence “was not primarily sexually motivated”.
I also found this very informative technical diagram of the US Criminal Justice System that should appear in all future textbooks on the subject (click for larger version):
12 comments:
I am just gonna go otu on a limb and say... WOW!!! Is this kid that messed up to not only try and "sex up" the road, but also attempt to do it with his pants firmly at his ankles, ouch man. I do agree that alcohol and pills aren't the best combo to be on while your friends dare you to do something (not that I have first hand knowledge or anything). But a prank is a prank and he definetly did not deserve to get on the registry list, so i am happy that he didn't. I just hope he thinks twice next time he is walking down the block and stares into the pavement, pondering thoughts of lust again.
This definately seems like just a case of bad young adult judgment. Like what was discussed in class today regarding an older man in a trench coat exposing himself, it seems like this is more an act that people are just likely to laugh at rather than feel threatened by. At the very least, I find it encouraging to see that he didn't end up on any kind of sex offender list. Society has certain laws in place to uphold decency and order and he should be adequately punished. However, this definately isn't an offense which should haunt someone for the rest of their lives.
As with the other posts, I agree that this act is wrong and in poor taste and judgement, but it is a stupid mistake, and should not be the reason an individual is put on the sex offender registry. He deserves to be punished or handled in some sort of way for his misbehavior, but the stigma of the sex offender registry is far to severe for this "crime".
Plus, this kid is going to have road rash on his junk, that may be punishment enough.
haha, what an idiot this kid is. Hasn't he taken a course in Victimology, or Crime and Deviance? Doesn't he know pranks like these could stigmatize him for life? He should do his homework next time BEFORE he decides pulling his pants down in public is harmless and just for fun. Creaig, maybe you should lecture him on the ins and outs of the sex-offender registry. haha!
Christina D.
This is obviously something a teenager would find funny. I agree with AJ in that it is definitely in poor taste and judgment, but I cannot confidently say that the intent to cause harm was there. It is basically ingrained in us as teenagers to be dumbasses and this is a situation more on the extreme end but in essence it is still just a dumb move. I am curious to see what his mother had to say about this though. I feel her wrath far surpasses anything the criminal justice system could mandate.
My question is, why he decided that, as a teenager, taking pills for arthritis would be beneficial. They reduce inflamation in the joints. Not many are narcotics.
As several already posted...it appears to be an act of poor judgment and impulsive in nature. Alcohol and medication I’m sure influenced inhibitions of this individual. Although it is quite disturbing witnessing someone humping the street...it is rather comical at the same time. The punishment of probation is adequate in this case...I’m sure he regrets his actions now and must watch himself while on probation. As others also said...it was not sexually motivated...more of an impulse / dare type situation. We all use poor judgment...so he really doesn't qualify to be on a sex offender registry. How many of us urinate in public on the walk home from the bar?
I think this story is hilarious. I just dont understand what would make a teenager do something that rediculous, regardles whether he was drunk. I dont understand why he was not placed on the sex offenders' register. He got charged with public indecency which i would think would put him on the list. If urinating in public can place you on the sex offenders registery, can't indecent exposure also place you on the list?
There is no reason to debate that “This was bizarre. Anyone who lies on the road in the daylight, is significantly intoxicated and is partially undressed has a problem.” But I agree that he did not deserve being put on the sex offender registry. For being 18, drinking while taking medication, I think 12 months of probation is a good sentence.
This is hillarious!!!! Obviously he was not in his right state of mind because someone that is would not do something like that. His age could have been another contributing factor because young people do stupid things especially when they are drunk. Stupid Pranks are usually a side affect of drunk, young, males. Im not sure if this was his first offense, but if it was the police made the right decision of not putting him on the sex offender registry. It would have ruined his life all over a "Prank."
It is good to see Steven Marshall is not going to be put on the sex offender’s registry. Sure he had sex with the pavement, but he did it because he was drunk and stupid, not to get off to it. In fact that must have hurt a lot. If he were put on the list, his life would effectively be over. I am not sure that is the appropriate response. Prisons should be reserved for violent offenders; sex offenders by and large need to be counseled and taught their behavior is not okay and needs to stop. Also once they are released from counseling or prison the have paid their debt to society and should be free to live their lives without being stigmatized. Since they are citizens they do deserve rights.
-Robert S.
Oh, so many reasons to love the U.K. and they have delivered yet again. This is classic. Of course, it puts the issue of what sorts of crimes are prudent to put the offenders on the sex offender registry, and does so humourously, The act, though it seems sexual, was not sexually motivated, nor does the act serve to hi-light an individual society should be weary of, and put on the registry. Some sort of subjective analysis should be done of cases before they make their way to the registry.
-Rose B.
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