Two streakers who ran onto the Sydney Cricket Ground during a match have been convicted – despite arguing that nudity at sporting events is no longer considered ‘obscene’.
Cousins Chad Sharp, 27, and Josh Hudson, 24, were found guilty of wilful and indecent exposure and fined $5,000 by a court after they ran onto the historic ground during a Big Bash game in January.
‘People enjoyed it, children and adults were laughing and cheering, that was the ambience of the game. There was no evidence that anybody did not enjoy it,’ their lawyer Peter Strain argued.
The streakers who ran onto the Sydney Cricket Ground during a match have been convicted – despite arguing that nudity at sporting events is no longer considered ‘obscene’
Cousins Chad Sharp (pictured) and Josh Hudson were found guilty of wilful and indecent exposure and fined $5,000 by a court after they ran onto the ground during a Big Bash game
The exhibitionists streaked across the January 14 game between the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers after promising to perform the stunt online.
Before the invasion, Hudson’s younger brother had posted a message on Facebook: ‘My brother and cousin are keen to do a nudie run at 8 o’clock at the 20 20 SCG tonight who’s keen to pay their fine’.
The men sprinted across the outfield to the pitch, where Mr Sharp bee lined for a stump.
‘That was my main objective. Once I got over the fence I went straight to the stumps, grabbed one then realised I got one,’ he told Nine earlier this year.
The exhibitionists streaked across the January 14 game between the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers after promising to perform the stunt online
The tradesmen argued that their actions were not ‘out of the ordinary’ and wouldn’t have offended anyone in attendance.
‘There are some circumstances where are streaker would be obscene – running through Sunday mass would perhaps be one… but streaking does happen at cricket matches,’ their lawyer said.
They argued that being convicted of wilful and indecent exposure puts them in the same category as sex offenders under the Criminal Records Act and would stay on a person’s record for life.
Magistrate Paul Lyon disagreed with their stance, arguing cricket matches are a family-friendly zone and their actions may discourage parents from taking their children in the future ‘because some males might want to expose their genitals and have fun.’
Mr Sharp and Mr Hudson disagreed with his ruling and have lodged an appeal to the District Court.