The ‘Naked Rambler’ is back behind bars after he allegedly stripped off for a stroll – just a MONTH after being released from prison.
Brazen Stephen Gough, 56, has spent the best part of the last decade in custody over his refusal to wear clothes, after he first took to wandering naked in 2003.
The former Royal Marine was only released last month after a ten month stint for breaching an ASBO forbidding him from being in public naked.
But he was arrested on Friday 11 September after locals in Twyford, Hampshire, called police when he allegedly went for a naked stroll in the middle of the afternoon.
Wacky Stephen’s pals claim he was heading towards his mum’s house in Eastleigh when he was picked up by police.
He has pleaded not guilty to breaching his order and was remanded in custody ahead of a trial next month at Winchester Crown Court.
Writing on Stephen’s website on Friday, one friend said: “I spent a few hours talking with Stephen today, then I went to move my car and rendezvous with him near Twyford around 4pm – but the police arrested him before he got to me.”
Another friend added: “Police are overstretched and undermanned?
“Yeah right. If they can spend a Stepegpounds and waste time depriving a British citizen of ten years of his freedom for doing nothing offensive then we are not as civilised a society as I had hoped.”
Activist Stephen first started walking the length of Britain in 2003, campaigning for freedom of all kinds.
The former lorry driver has been arrested a number of times and completed a number of stints in prison – mostly in solitary confinement due to his refusal to wear clothes.
He was released from Winchester Prison on August 14 and friends said he has spent the last few weeks visiting family and friends, before he was arrested on Friday (11).
A spokesman for Hampshire Police confirmed the arrest.
