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Pervert Josh Ridden, formerly of Strood and now Teynham, jailed for stripping off and simulating sex in Laburnum recreation ground

A crazed drug user who stripped off and simulated sex acts in a children’s play area, causing alarm and distress, has been jailed for nine months.

Josh Ridden - described by his lawyer as a decent member of society - was “tripping” on the hallucinatory drug LSD as he cavorted at Laburnum recreation ground in Strood.

Now, as well as having a criminal record, his name will be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and he is barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

The incident happened at Laburnum Road recreation ground. Picture: Google Street View.
The incident happened at Laburnum Road recreation ground. Picture: Google Street View.

Ridden, formerly of Glamford Road, Strood, now of London Road, Teynham, near Sittingbourne, admitted committing an act outraging public decency, two offences of sexual assault and two of assault by beating.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the 24-year-old’s bizarre behaviour started with him dancing around in front of passing cars at about 11am on September 28 last year - naked except for boxer shorts around his ankles.

"His behaviour was bizarre. He was under the influence of LSD. It helps to understand why such behaviour comes from a decent member of society..." - John Fitzgerald, defending

He punched the window of a Ford Fiesta with a retired couple inside.

Ridden then stripped off completely and simulated a sex act on the ground. He approached a woman in her 60s, who was pushing a child on a swing, rubbed up against her and tried to pull down her skirt.

He also rubbed up against a father who was with his four-year-old son. He struck the child on the back of the head, knocking him over. Children nearby cried.

The father lashed out at him and was at first arrested for assault. No charge was brought, however.

The whole incident lasted up to 90 minutes.

John Fitzgerald, defending, said Ridden had no history of sexual offending.

“The circumstances are unusual,” he said. “His behaviour was bizarre. He was under the influence of LSD. It helps to understand why such behaviour comes from a decent member of society.

“He had never tried it before. He accepts he smokes cannabis. It was not done for any kind of sexual gratification. A risk of repetition is next to nil.

“He recognises wholeheartedly the impact of his offending. The court can conclude his behaviour was wholly out of character.

The case was heard at Maidstone Crown Court
The case was heard at Maidstone Crown Court

“The court will probably be appalled by his behaviour. He accepts that. He was drinking too much and taking drugs.”

Mr Fitzgerald submitted: “A prison sentence will achieve nothing other than punishment. He can be punished in a way that is not so destructive.”

As Ridden was entitled to credit of more than three months either in custody or on a curfew, he would be in prison, he said, for “a matter of days”.

Judge Charles Macdonald QC told Ridden: “The reason for your conduct was you had taken LSD and having what used to be called a bad trip.

“I accept the mitigation is remorse and a good work history. The custody threshold is clearly passed. Immediate custody is inevitable."

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