The Naked Rambler is cleared of breach

Published on Wednesday 11 April 2007 00:23

STEPHEN Gough, the "Naked Rambler" was yesterday cleared of causing a breach of the peace by refusing to cover up in a car park.

Gough, 47, has been found guilty eight times for exposing himself in public, but Sheriff Isobel Poole ruled his latest case was not proven.

The former Royal Marine admitted refusing to dress before being released into Saughton prison car park in Edinburgh, but argued that his "natural state" should not cause distress to others.

Sheriff Poole ruled there was insufficient evidence to show his undress might have caused others alarm.

John Good, defending, told Edinburgh Sheriff Court: "Mr Gough argues that a grown man in his natural state, almost by definition, should not be a crime. It should not place people in a distressed state. Breach of the peace has been redefined continually over the course of time."

He described Gough as wearing only woolly socks and climbing boots and being naked from the ankles up when he walked into the public prison car park at 9:30am on 5 March this year. He was quickly arrested.

Mr Good said that although Gough does not wear clothes in prison or in the security van that brings him to court for trials, he has never been reported to the police in these instances.

"If it is not a breach of the peace on one side of the line why is it on the other?" the solicitor asked.

Sheriff Poole cleared Gough saying: "In this case there is no evidence of actual alarm or disturbance."