Sheriff locks up couple caught kissing in court

Aug 17 2008 By Lynn Mcpherson

A PREGNANT woman and her lover were sent to the cells for kissing in court.

Sheriff Alastair Watson saw Billy Shekleton embracing Rachel Stewart as they sat in the public gallery.

The furious lawman told them they were not in a cinema and ordered guards to lock them up at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

The couple, of Ayr, spent more than an hour behind bars.

Billy, 33, kissed six weeks pregnant Rachel, 28, as they feared he was about to be jailed. Rachel said: "I have been a bit more emotional than usual. Billy was comforting me by giving me a goodbye kiss.

"He thought he was going to jail. It was a peck on the cheek and not a full kiss.

"I was very scared when we were taken down and I was crying my eyes out.

"I was worried I was going to be put in jail for contempt of court. I don't know if it would have made any difference if the sheriff had known that I was pregnant but I found the whole thing very stressful."

Billy, who was appearing over a breach of community service, said: "I thought I was going to jail and wanted to give Rachel a kiss goodbye. She was a bit tearful. It was just a peck on the cheek, nothing more.

"The sheriff told us to stand up and humiliated us in front of the court. He said we weren't at the pictures but in a court of law. Everyone was laughing.

"I was put in one cell and she was put in another. After lunch, we were allowed back into court. The sheriff gave us a lecture.

He said that our behaviour wasn't appropriate and had been out of order."

Convicted thief Billy was given another chance to do his community service.

He added: "I think he was fair as he gave me another chance. It's unfortunate Rachel got caught up in it. I felt bad for her."

A Scottish Court Service spokeswoman said: "The court was unusually disruptive.

This couple engaged in a very passionate embrace in the front row of the court, right in front of the sheriff, in the face of repeated warnings to the public benches."

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