'Naked Rambler' refuses to put clothes on during court appearance

Stephen Gough: The 'Naked Rambler' refused to put clothes on in court.SWNS

'Naked Rambler' Stephen Gough has refused to put clothes on as he appeared in court naked to face a breach of the peace charge.

The 53-year-old was appearing at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court accused of walking nude near a children's play park just three days after he was released from jail for a previous sentence.

A sheriff pleaded with the former Royal Marine to put some clothes on and get a lawyer ahead of his trial later this month.

But Gough said he felt he was "appropriately dressed" and refused to consider covering up in court.

Gough was arrested by Fife Constabulary officers on the edge of Townhill, outside Dunfermline, Fife, last month after complaints by locals.

He appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Friday for a pre-trial hearing.

Gough was held in a side room beside the building's Courtroom Three, specially set up for him as other pre-trial hearings took place elsewhere.

He entered the dock handcuffed to a G4S security officer wearing only a pair of hiking boots and white socks and clutching court papers.

Gough was seated on a towel in the dock as he represented himself during the 10 minute hearing.

Sheriff Richard Macfarlane said: "You appear today unclothed, is there a reason?"

Gough replied: "Freedom."

The sheriff said: "It is not appropriate in the setting which you find yourself in this morning, a court of law, and there are certain standards. Appearing naked does not meet that. It may be that coming in as you have could be a contempt of court. I ask you, Stephen Gough, are you prepared to dress appropriately?"

Gough replied: "I think I am dressed appropriately."

Sheriff Macfarlane: "You're not dressed at all."

Gough said: "I think that's appropriate."

The sheriff told Gough that as he had refused to put clothes on he would be found in contempt of court, meaning he may face even more jail time regardless of the outcome of his trial later this month.

It is alleged that Gough, who earned his nickname by walking unclothed from Land's End to John O'Groats after quitting his job as a lorry driver, conducted himself in a disorderly manner in the village's Cairncubie Road.

The charge against him alleges that he walked naked in a public park close to a children's play park. Prosecutors say he refused to put on clothing or move away from the area and committed a breach of the peace. The incident is said to have taken place on July 20.

He had been released from his last sentence, imposed after he walked naked from Perth Prison at the end of another jail term, on July 17.

Gough, who gave his address as Chamberlain Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, denies the charge.

He asked the court for copies of witness statements against him to be disclosed by the prosecution.

He said: "I am prepared for trial."

Sheriff Macfarlane continued the case to trial on August 23 and pleaded with Gough to reconsider getting dressed.

He said: "I ask that you reconsider your position with how you dress when you are brought to the court for trial. You could find yourself yet again, as today, in contempt. I renew my plea to you regarding representation as well, it is in matters of this kind where instructing a lawyer could so benefit you."

Gough was remanded in custody ahead of the trial, with the issue of contempt continued until the end of that trial.

Gough has spent most of the last six years in solitary confinement at HMP Perth.

He has repeatedly been arrested seconds after walking free from the jail in the city's Edinburgh Road.

Last August he was jailed for 657 days for breach of the peace and contempt of court.

The breach was for leaving HMP Perth naked at the end of a previous sentence, while he was found in contempt for representing himself at the city's sheriff court while naked.

Gough became known as the 'Naked Rambler' after he tried to walk naked from Land's End to John O'Groats in 2003.

He was repeatedly arrested and served four months in Inverness Prison, eventually reaching John O'Groats in 2004.

He set off again in 2005 and was repeatedly arrested once he crossed into Scotland, serving two prison services before arriving in 2006.

He returned home but on a flight back to Scotland in May 2006 he was detained once again for a breach of the peace after he went to the toilet and removed his clothes.

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