Woman carried out indecent act in front of kids in Devon

Carly Hickman was previously banned from bothering people in Cornwall

A woman who was seen masturbating in a Devon shop doorway in front of children for 20 minutes has been handed a suspended sentence. Carly Hickman, aged 36 and now of Liskeard, Cornwall, appeared via video link at Plymouth Crown Court where she was sentenced for a number of offences.

The court heard how Hickman, who appeared in custody from HMP Eastwood Park, had been before the courts on a number of occasions, but the latest series of offences were in breach of a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) made in September 2022 at Bodmin Magistrates Court.

Judge Peter Johnson reminded Hickman she was also made the subject of a prison sentence of 26 weeks and so was on supervision at the time of the latest offences.

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He noted that a week after the CBO was imposed upon her last year she was found in the centre of Liskeard in an intoxicated state. He said she was aggressive and "acting in what was described as a psychotic way, screaming and shouting deeply unpleasant things" including inviting people to "slit their wrists and go and kill themselves" which went on "for approximately two hours".

She admitted breaching the CBO at court shortly afterwards and was granted bail ahead of a sentencing hearing. On September 27 this year Hickman was again found to be "behaving in a bizarre way", banging on doors and dustbins in a Callington street. The court was told that Hickman was "upset" that a named man had apparently refused to engage with her. She was arrested and interviewed, before being released under investigation.

However, the most serious of charges she faced happened in Plymouth. Judge Johnson noted that on October 9 at 11pm she was seen in a doorway "masturbating". Police were called and she was arrested for outraging public decency, telling officers she was "extremely unwell" with regards to her mental health.

She was shown footage of her offending and appeared "disturbed" by it. She admitted that she had consumed crack cocaine prior to the incident.

However, Judge Johnson noted that regardless of how disturbed by her own behaviour she had felt "it didn't stop you doing the same thing" on October 25 during the half-term school holiday.

Hickman was reminded that at 3.30pm she was again seen "masturbating once more in New George Street". However, this was a "busy time for the centre of Plymouth. This was half-term and children were present and it went on for approximately 20 minutes". This time when arrested she denied she had been outraging public decency. A search of her revealed a quantity of cannabis, the court was told.

Judge Johnson said that it was "abundantly clear" that there were "underlying mental health issues". He noted a mental health treatment report which had been submitted to him and it was clear that Hickman led a "chaotic lifestyle". He said he also recognised her diagnosis of schizophrenia and said that it was clear to him that "assistance is needed more than anything else".

Taking into account the sentencing guidelines on sentencing offenders "with mental disorders and neurological impairments" he passed a sentence of 11 months but suspended for 12 months. Hickman consented to a Mental Health Treatment Requirement for 12 months and a supervision requirement for 12 months.

He told Hickman via the online facility that he hoped this combination of orders and treatment "gives you a chance to help you to address your mental health and that a package will be put in place which will allow you to essentially go straight and not be a public nuisance which I'm sure you'll agree is what you've been over the last few years."

Hickman was also made subject of a three year restraining order not to contact a named man or attend where he lives and works.