Medziotojas Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 More jail time for naked rambler A man known as the naked rambler has been jailed for 12 months after being convicted of a breach of the peace. Stephen Gough, 49, was brought into the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday wearing no clothes or shoes. He was arrested at the same court last month after attempting to leave the building naked, following an acquittal for breach of the peace. The former marine, from Eastleigh in Hampshire, has twice walked naked from Land's End to John O'Groats. During his appearance, Gough told the court that if members of the public were offended by his nakedness then the problem was with them and not with him. He has spent most of the past two-and-a-half years in prison at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of more than £200,000. I think what I find most offensive about this is the cost to the taxpayer. Is jail the correct solution? Methinks not. Shetland's climate rather puts pay to any debate on the matter, but imagine Shetland with Mediterranean temperatures. I think there could be beaches and areas for people who wished to go nude. Unfortunately we've been brought up in an environment where nudity in public is a taboo subject, otherwise I might say go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medziotojas Posted December 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Just remembered being in Cannes in the late 90s, and being accosted by a security guard in a supermarket. I eventually managed to suss out what he was saying. Turned out he wanted me to button up my shirt. Seemingly it's okay to go topless on the beaches, but not on the street or in the shops (this applies [or applied then] to both men and women). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EM Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Shetland's climate rather puts pay to any debate on the matter, but imagine Shetland with Mediterranean temperatures.Ha! You spoke too soon. Check out Ivan's Clan postcards . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medziotojas Posted December 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Brrr... sledgin'! Doesna bare thinkin aboot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuckleJoannie Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 My Dad told me there used to be naturist club in Shetland in the 1930's. I think they used to meet at what is now the Westings Hotel. It's not something that I've ever heard about anywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlady Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Why don't they give the naturist community service up here in the winter That should save the tax payer a bob or two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EM Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Why don't they give the naturist community service up here in the winter I first thought you meant "give the naturist-community, service up here" (which seemed a bit ), rather than "give the naturist a community-service sentence." Mind you Ivan seems to be providing a service to the community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marooned in Maywick Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 Isn't it the case that naturists actually have a name for the condition that encourages them to remove their clothes? I believe it's called clothestrophobia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooks Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 My Dad told me there used to be naturist club in Shetland in the 1930's. I think they used to meet at what is now the Westings Hotel. It's not something that I've ever heard about anywhere else. It's about 8 and a half miles north of Lerwick, been there a few times myself. Surprised you haven't heard about it. £200 grand? I would like to know where they have plucked this figure from. Some of that could of course be legal fees and such like but if it is costing £200 000 quid to house a prisoner for two and a half years then it is time we had an annual cull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustMe Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 Jail is probably not the ideal sentence but what else is there?. The man insists on what society considers to be unacceptable behaviour so society wants him stopped. My own view is that it would be better to detain him in a special hospital but I guess that he is not mad enough for that so has to go to jail. As for naturism I think it is fine in private clubs or selected beaches but not in the middle of town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAStewart Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I don't have a problem with it because I don't have a problem with the human body. Anti-naturists have got it completely wrong when they say its anything sexual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunnered Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I think they should just ignore him and let him get on with it. And anyway, our prisons are overflowing, so they should be used to lock up people who are a danger to society, not someone who is a bit loopy but harmless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bridgman-Elliot Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 Out of interest, when did it become illegal to be naked in public in the UK ? Obviously way back in the past we was all naked in the trees, so at some point someone decided it wasn't ok.. (Perhaps clothing manufactors.. conspiracy theory 101..) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlady Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 Or make him do community service in the art colleges .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glipper Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 HEY POOKS YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE EAST LINGA CLUBBERS THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN A CULL !!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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