Man filmed in public sexual act with woman identified by girlfriend

A man who was caught on camera performing a sexual act with a woman in public, in footage that went globally viral, was identified by his own girlfriend, a court has heard. Joe Firby (pictured left), 23, from Gateshead, engaged in a sexual act with Kelly Cousins (center and right) after meeting the 35-year-old in the gym and going on a date with her in Liverpool city center, where they both drank heavily, on the night of August 1 last year.

A video of the pair on Concert Square was posted on social media, including Instagram and Facebook, sparking a police investigation. Firby was identified in the footage by his girlfriend at the time, while Cousins was identified by her social worker. Firby, who has no previous convictions, appeared for sentencing at Sefton Magistrates Court today after pleading guilty to outraging public decency in December.

When asked by the court if he wanted to say anything in his defense, he replied: ‘I’ve got nothing to say.’ He was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £120 ($145) court costs and a £114 ($140) surcharge.

Cousins (pictured), a mother-of-four, also pleaded guilty to the offense, and was given a 10-week suspended prison sentence in November 2022. She was also ordered to complete 40 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity days with the Probation Service. Her solicitor, Heather Toohey, told magistrates that Cousins had been subjected to incessant abuse since the videos went viral and suggested much of the commentary around the case was one-sided and driven by ‘misogyny.’

Cousins, formerly of Netherton, Merseyside, but as of now has no fixed address, said she was hounded with threats and abusive comments after footage from her encounter went viral on social media. She some of the footage, recorded by strangers, on her own social media pages, adding fuel to the criticism. She later said she thought by ‘making light’ of the incident it would make the hate campaign ‘go away.’

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