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Surreptitious indecency

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of defendant Simon Austin Hamilton against conviction at Canterbury Crown Court of five offences of outraging public decency.

The defendant had surreptitiously placed a video camera in his rucksack in order to film up the skirts of certain women. None of the victims had seen the defendant filming.

Lord Justice Thomas, giving the judgment of the court, said firstly it had to be proved that the act was of such a lewd, obscene or disgusting character that it outraged public decency – in this case it was clear that the act was one which was capable of being adjudged by a jury to be such an act. Secondly, the jury had been entitled to find that it was such an act, even if no one saw the defendant carrying it out.

Times (Mrs M R Green)

Crazy frog in flames

As a crematorium organist, I see and hear many awful things. One funeral recently ended with a large mechanical croaking frog being placed on the coffin. The lack of dignity and respect is appalling.

Daily Telegraph (Tim Hopkins)

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