Sheriff gives Naked Rambler a dressing down

NAKED Rambler Stephen Gough was admonished by a sheriff yesterday for breaching bail conditions by failing to wear clothes as he left prison.

But his pleas of not guilty to two charges of breach of the peace on separate occasions last year were accepted by the Crown at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Former Royal Marine Gough, 46, still faces sentencing on March 1 on contempt of court charges for refusing to wear clothes for court appearances in December.

The charges against Gough, of Eastleigh, Hampshire, arose as he was carrying out his second walk the length of Britain last year.

Yesterday's hearing was carried out in Gough's absence after he refused to put on clothes.

Gough was jailed for two weeks in September last year for committing a breach of the peace by walking naked on the A701, near Bilston, Midlothian, and has since been repeatedly been jailed for breaching bail conditions.

Gough was yesterday granted bail until his case for contempt of court for refusing to wear clothes in the dock is called.