Clothing? It's off again for nude rambler

Published on Tuesday 22 January 2008 09:45

THE Naked Rambler is set to stay behind bars after admitting he is not prepared to get dressed.

Stephen Gough, 48, was set free last Friday by a sheriff who gave him the chance to end his "vicious circle" as long as he left court with clothes on.

But he was re-arrested just six steps into his walk from court as he left wearing only a rucksack.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Gough – not allowed to appear due to his state of undress – denied the breach of the peace and his bail was refused.

Both prosecution and defence agreed he would break the bail again if given another chance.

Last week, he was warned he would be taken straight back to the cells if he appeared in the nude in public again. The rambler, from Hampshire, was first arrested during a UK trek as he campaigned for advocacy of public nudity, and is now facing his 13th charge. He was cleared of another breach of the peace charge in June only to be re-arrested in Edinburgh five minutes later with no clothes on.