Naked Rambler arrested in Tardebigge

Buy photos » Stephen Gough - appeared at court in Leamington wearing just his socks. (s)

THE MAN dubbed the Naked Rambler was arrested after walking through North Worcestershire in the nude.

Stephen Gough and another man, who has not been named, were sighted on the Alcester Road in Burcot shortly before 11.40am on Friday (November 30). Ten minutes later they were arrested on suspicion of outraging public decency by West Mercia Police as they made their way through Tardebigge near Hewell Grange prison.

Both men were taken to Redditch Police Station and released without charge but Gough, who has been repeatedly jailed as a result of his belief he should be allowed to be naked in public, was arrested again after making his way over the Warwickshire border to Bickmarsh, near Bidford-on-Avon.

After refusing to put clothes on, he appeared before magistrates at the Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington wearing just his socks.

The 53-year-old pleaded not guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour on Saturday, December 1.

His solicitor Mark Parry argued walking around naked was not insulting behaviour, adding Gough had previously argued human rights legislation should allow him to be nude.

Gough has previously appeared in court in Scotland, where he was jailed for five months in September but released in October.

Magistrates adjourned the case for trial in February and warned Gough it could go ahead in his absence if he failed to attend.

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