Naked rambler forces court to move to cells

Published on Wednesday 27 February 2008 09:40

A SHERIFF was forced to conduct a hearing in the holding cells at court when the Naked Rambler refused to put his clothes on – again.

Stephen Gough – who has now spent 20 months in jail – was found guilty of another breach of the peace and now faces a further four months behind bars.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Sheriff Raymond McMenamin said it was "out of the question" to have him give evidence in the nude.

He said: "To avoid the public spectacle in court we will have to hear the evidence in the cells."

Earlier, the court heard Gough was taken into custody in January after walking free from court naked after a sheriff gave him the chance to end his "vicious circle".

PC Darrin Borthwick said: "We asked him to put his clothes on and the only alternative to arresting him was to let him walk around a busy part of town."

The ex-marine took just six steps of freedom before police took him into the back of a van and re-arrested him.

Yesterday's sentencing was his 13th straight breach of the peace – all for appearing nude in public.

His solicitor said Gough would rather just be left alone until people come round to his way of thinking and sees the court appearances as a pain.

Gough, who originally comes from Hampshire, was originally arrested during a trek the length of Britain.