CHESTER MAN RAYMOND COWAP JAILED FOR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AT NORTHGATE ARENA

In a disturbing incident at the Northgate Arena leisure centre in Chester, a man was sentenced to prison after engaging in inappropriate conduct in a pool-side sauna. Raymond Lee Cowap, aged 39, was caught in the act by a father who was present at the facility with his young daughter on August 13 of this year. The incident shocked witnesses and prompted immediate action from staff at the leisure centre.

According to the proceedings at Chester Magistrates Court, the father who witnessed the incident quickly alerted a lifeguard after observing Cowap with his shorts pulled down in the sauna. The court heard that Cowap’s behavior was clearly visible and caused significant distress to the witness, who was understandably upset by the sight. Once Cowap realized he had been seen, he hurriedly pulled his trunks back up and attempted to leave the area. However, he was soon apprehended by security personnel and taken into custody.

During the court hearing, it was revealed that Cowap has a troubling history of similar offenses. He has previous convictions for acts of a sexual nature, including pleasuring himself on a train in Wirral in 2014, outside his former residence in Wirral in 2016, and on a bus traveling between Chester and Ellesmere Port last year. These prior incidents underscore a pattern of inappropriate and unlawful behavior.

The prosecution, led by Rob Youds, emphasized the distress caused to the victim and the seriousness of the offense. He stated that the witness was left “very distressed” after witnessing Cowap’s actions. The court also noted that Cowap had been subject to a sexual harm prevention order issued by Wirral magistrates in 2016, which he subsequently breached by committing this latest act.

In his defense, lawyer David Kirwan argued against a custodial sentence, suggesting that an alternative punishment might be appropriate. Nonetheless, the magistrates decided to impose a four-month prison sentence on Cowap, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the need for deterrence.

It was also noted that Cowap, who resides on Watergate Street in Chester, has difficulties with memory, a condition often associated with autism. This aspect was considered during sentencing, but it did not outweigh the need for accountability for his conduct in this case.