THE Naked Rambler today passed up a chance of freedom by emerging naked from Edinburgh Sheriff Court and immediately being arrested.
Stephen Gough, 48, was given the opportunity to bring "the vicious circle" of imprisonment to an end by Sheriff Kenneth Maciver.
Gough, of Eastleigh in Hampshire, has been in Saughton Prison, almost without a break of more than a few minutes, sin
ce May 2006.
In November of last year, Sheriff Maciver found Gough guilty of committing a breach of the peace by walking in St Leondard's Hill without clothes on, after his release from a police station. Sentence had been deferred for a psychiatric assessment and to give Gough the opportunity to reconsider his position.
When the case was called today, the sheriff was told that Gough was still refusing to dress. He was brought to the bottom of stairs leading from the courtroom to the cells so that he could hear what was happening.
Sheriff Maciver said the view of court, including the High Court, was that members of the public should not have to tolerate completely naked persons in full view on public streets.
The sheriff said: "Mr Gough's position is that he is entitled and has the legal and moral right to be naked in public and the public have no reason to be concerned about his nakedness. He takes the view that the courts are wrong."
He said Gough was kept in solitary confinement in prison because he did not wear clothes. This was not good for the prison authorities in terms of management and not good for him in terms of his general health.
"I am trying to bring this vicious circle to an end " said the sheriff. "The only person who can bring this to an end is Mr Gough himself.
"He can end this by simply making his own free choice to put on his clothes like the rest of the population and to go home, or to go back to prison."
Sheriff Maciver deferred sentenced on Gough until April 16 to be of good behaviour and ordained him to appear.
He said: "He will be completely clear of the justice system and free to make the choice about his future."
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 building, still naked, to be met by police officers.
He was arrested and before being placed in a police van, was asked if he had any comment to make, said: "Where is the freedom?"
The full article contains 472 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
