Mark Mortimer, a 47-year-old man from Coleford, Gloucestershire, has been sentenced to six weeks in prison following a shocking incident at the Lydbrook & District Community Social Club more than two years ago. At a hearing on July 1 at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court, Mortimer was convicted of outraging public decency, stemming from an incident in which he defecated on the club’s wall and then cleaned himself using a sandwich.
The disturbing episode occurred on the evening of February 13, 2024. According to a spokesperson for the club, Mortimer arrived at around 8:30 p.m., behaving erratically and making strange remarks. After requesting to use the toilet, he remained inside for several minutes. He also asked for a drink but admitted he had no money to pay. At one point, he claimed to be carrying a bomb, which was later revealed by staff to be a large silver metal ball.
Concerned by his peculiar behavior, the club staff fabricated a closure announcement in an attempt to prompt Mortimer to leave. However, shortly after exiting the building, he defecated on the club’s wall and wiped himself with a sandwich taken from a black bag he was carrying. The spokesperson described the act as “absolutely mortifying” and among the most disgusting things she had ever witnessed.
Following the incident, police quickly apprehended Mortimer near the club. In addition to the public decency charge, he pleaded guilty to burglary and theft for breaking into a cottage in Lydbrook on the same day and stealing a torch. He had previously pled guilty to affray in a separate case heard at Gloucester Crown Court, where he received a four-month sentence but was released due to time served.
Mortimer initially failed to appear at his sentencing hearing in May, causing a warrant for his arrest to be issued. Ultimately, he was sentenced to six weeks for outraging public decency, with the burglary and theft charges running concurrently.