Naked Rambler rambler senteced to 21 months in Perth

Feb 9 2010 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THE man dubbed ‘The Naked Rambler’ was jailed for a total of 21 months at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday.

The notorious naturist showed no emotion as he was led from the dock, wearing no clothes or shoes, to begin the latest in a long line of prison terms.

The court heard that ex-Marine Stephen Gough (50) had been arrested at the gates of Perth Prison on December 17 last year.

He was subsequently convicted of breaching the peace by walking naked in nearby Manson Terrace.

He had been released early from a 12-month sentence imposed last July for a similar offence.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told Gough at his last court appearance that he was prepared to defer sentence on him if he agreed to return to his mother’s home in Eastleigh, Hampshire, fully clothed – and then report to his local police station.

But Gough rejected that offer – and he told the Sheriff yesterday that was still his position.

The Sheriff noted that since 2003, Gough had accumulated, including his present breach of the peace, 20 convictions for virtually identical offences.

“By my calculations, you have been sentenced to a total of six years and three months,” he said.

And despite being warned previously that he risked being found in contempt of court by appearing naked, Gough continued to appear without clothes.

The Sheriff added that a medical report prepared on Gough indicated that he viewed his behaviour as a “campaign” and if he gave up his principles that would make him feel “worse”.

The Sheriff added: “In my opinion, all these factors indicate you have no contrition or remorse for your behaviour and take no account of persons’ views whatsoever and fully intend to continue in your course of action.”

Gough said previously that he was standing up for his personal freedom by not wearing any clothes.

“I believe I should be allowed to express myself – I am not harming anyone,” he asserted.

The Sheriff ordered Gough to serve 180 days behind bars – the unexpired portion of his previous sentence – and added a further 12 months for the latest offence.

He also jailed him for a further three months for contempt of court, resulting from his appearances naked on January 11 and yesterday.

The sentences were backdated to December 17, when Gough was first remanded in custody.

An expected protest outside the Tay Street court building in support of Gough failed to materialise.