Prison for offenders who urinated on friend in park as 'prank'

Saturday 16 December 2023

Two men who committed "a gross outrage of public decency" by urinating on their unconscious friend in a public park – during what was described as a day of "pranking" – have each been jailed.

The Magistrate's Court heard that Laurie Ian Murphy (32) and Jake Langlois (34) urinated on the man and rubbed their buttocks against his face in Parade Gardens in full view of tourists and small children.

Advocate Katie Ridley, prosecuting, quoted one witness to the incident, who had said: “The man appeared to be out for the count. It made me disgusted. I was shocked by what I saw.”

When the police arrived at 12:40, Murphy and Langlois  were unsteady on their feet and slurring their words, and smelt of intoxicating liquor and Langlois told them: "We were just being silly lads, that’s all it was."

They were arrested for being drunk and disorderly and indecent exposure but video clips of the incident, recorded on a mobile phone and shown in court, revealed what had happened. Murphy and Langlois were then charged with committing a gross outrage of public decency.

Murphy was guilty of 157 previous offences, many dealt with by the Youth Court, while Langlois was subject to a binding over order at the time of the incident.

Pictured: The case was heard in the Magistrate's Court.

Advocate James Bell, defending Murphy, said: “He is truly ashamed of his actions. He has offered an apology. He knows that it was wrong to behave in that way.”

He also stressed that he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had cut back on his drinking since the incident, and added that the man who had been urinated on was a friend of the two culprits and had not made any complaint.

“He has come to court to show that there are no hard feelings,” he said.

Advocate Nicholas Mière, defending Langlois, said there had been “an unfortunate atmosphere of pranking that day” and also pointed out: “The victim is Mr Langlois’s best friend. We must dispel the shocking thought that he was a complete stranger.”

He felt it could be dealt with by a probation order.

He said Langlois’s partner is expecting their first child together and argued: “This brings his future conduct into sharp focus. He accepts the responsibility that has now fallen upon him.”

Pictured: The pair were sent to HMP La Moye.

However Relief Magistrate Peter Harris said: “There is some suggestion of a prank that got out of hand. It goes way beyond that.

“An immediate custodial sentence is applicable in this case.”

The pair were each sent behind bars for five months.