THE Naked Rambler has passed up a chance of freedom by emerging naked from court and immediately being arrested.
Stephen Gough, 48, was given the opportunity to end "the vicious circle" of imprisonment by Sheriff Kenneth Maciver. Gough, of Eastleigh, Hampshire, has been in Saughton Prison, almost without a break of more than a few minutes, since May 2006.
In November last year, Sheriff Maciver found Gough guilty of breaching the peace by walking naked in St Leonard's Hill, after his release from a police station. Sentence had been deferred to give Gough the opportunity to reconsider his position. When the case was called at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, the sheriff was told that Gough was still refusing to dress. He was brought to the bottom of stairs leading from the cells to the courtroom so he could hear the proceedings.
Sheriff Maciver said the view of court was that members of the public should not have to tolerate naked persons in full view on public streets. He deferred sentenced on Gough until April 16.
If Gough had been in no further trouble at the end of the three month period, Sheriff Maciver said he would deal with the matter without Gough having to come to court, but if he carried on with his conduct of not wearing clothes, he would have to accept the consequences.
Less than two hours later, Gough emerged from the rear of the court, still naked, to be met by police officers.
