A woman has been sentenced to 16 weeks in prison after being caught engaging in sexual activity in broad daylight outside a shopping centre in Whitley Bay. Rachel Hardy-Gent, who was found naked from the waist down and with her chest exposed, was seen by a delivery driver next to the Park View Shopping Centre. The incident occurred when the driver was making a delivery and noticed Hardy-Gent and a man in a compromising position. Prosecutor James Long described the scene at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court, stating, "They were lying on the floor having sex. This defendant is said to be naked from the waist down. She also had her chest exposed. The male in question had his trousers and underwear pulled down, clearly having sex." The public nature of the act prompted the driver to alert the police, who subsequently arrested Hardy-Gent. Upon her arrest, officers discovered a jagged piece of glass from a broken bottle hidden in her bra. Hardy-Gent, who has a lengthy criminal record with 58 previous offences, pleaded guilty to charges of outraging public decency, possession of an offensive weapon, and breaching a suspended sentence. Defence lawyer Mark Styles stated that Hardy-Gent had consumed a significant amount of alcohol on the day of the incident, leading her to black out and lose awareness of her actions. He explained, "She wants help for her alcohol misuse and housing matters. It's an upsetting application for me to make to ask that she's sent to prison but that's what she wants and she's an adult, so perhaps she knows what is best for her." Styles further noted that Hardy-Gent had intended to keep the glass bottle for her own protection but had no plans to use it as a weapon. He emphasised her desire for assistance in overcoming her alcohol issues, which she uses to cope with past traumas. The court's decision reflects the seriousness of the offence and the need for intervention in Hardy-Gent's life.