Charges dropped against sunbathers who flashed their breasts at CCTV camera

Abbi-Louise Maple and Rachel Marchant, both 21, were accused of exposing their chests on Worthing seafront, West Sussex, on July 16.

A CCTV operator summoned police and the pair were charged with outraging public decency.

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They appeared at Worthing Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and elected for Crown Court trial.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Miss Maple and Miss Marchant were near a children's play area and there were youngsters in the vicinity at the time of the alleged incident.

But a spokesman for the organisation said today: "The Chief Crown Prosecutor, Sarah Jane Gallagher, in consultation with Sussex Police, has subsequently reviewed the case and she has decided that to continue would not be in the public interest.

"The case has therefore been discontinued."

Speaking after she heard the news, Miss Maple said: "We'd been to the pub and had a few drinks.

"It was just a little joke, one of those spur-of-the-moment things.

"I'm happy. I just wanted it to be over, I didn't want a criminal record for that. It's embarrassing."

The women's solicitor, Chris Chatterton, said it was a common-sense decision.

"On seeing the camera they thought they'd give the operator a surprise," he said.

"I'm sure they have learnt a lesson from this."

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The saga began when the pair were on Worthing beach with a party of friends.

After having a few drinks, they decided to flash at the CCTV camera as a joke - but the operator failed to see the funny side and called police.

Minutes later, the two blondes were arrested, questioned and then charged with committing an act outraging public decency - an offence which carries a maximum sentence of six months prison or a £5,000 fine.

If the case had gone to a trial at crown court it would have cost the taxpayer £8,000 a day.

Miss Marchant said: "We did not intend to upset anyone and I don't think it's that offensive because people sunbathe topless all the time.

"Everyone thinks it's ridiculous that we've been taken to court. Most people think what we did was funny.

"That's all it was - just a bit of a laugh.

"It's a waste of time and money. They should be concentrating on drug dealers and rapists, not two girls having a bit of harmless fun."

The decision to prosecute for an offence that appeared so trivial drew heavy criticism.

Peter Bottomley, Tory MP for West Worthing, led calls for the case to be dropped.

He said: "This is ridiculous.

"It is a total waste of public money and waste of time for the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts. The sooner they drop the case, the better."

There are no laws specifically prohibiting nudity in public.

Public nudity can be prosecuted under the common law offence of outraging public decency if it causes harassment, alarm or distress.

There is also an offence of indecent exposure that falls under the Sexual Offences Act.

Naturists and topless sunbathers are not usually prosecuted.

The case followed that of a 12-year-old boy who was this week hauled before a court charged with assault after throwing a sausage at his neighbour.

A judge threw out the charge and criticised the police and lawyers for pursuing the case.

In March last year, a 15-year-old boy from Burnley was landed with a criminal record simply for throwing a snowball at a car.

The teenager was prosecuted under a little-used 160-year-old law and fined £100.

And in January 2005, Sarah McCaffrey, 23, was fined £60 by South Tyneside court for eating an apple while driving.