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Naked rambler Stephen Gough denies Asbo breach

BBC postponed screening of documentary after arrest

Wednesday 11 September 2013 07:19 EDT

Stephen Gough is the Naked Rambler (Getty Images)

The “Naked Rambler” has pleaded not guilty to breaching an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) which bans him from taking off his clothes in public.

Former Royal Marine Stephen Gough appeared via video-link at Winchester Crown Court to deny the single charge.

The 54-year-old was remanded in custody until a one-day trial, to be held on January 6 next year, according to a court spokesman.

Gough, who chooses not to wear clothes as a protest against the idea that nudity is offensive, gained notoriety when he walked naked from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 2003 and again in 2005.

He has been sentenced to more than six years in prison and received dozens of convictions for his belief that it is his human right to be naked in public.

After Gough was charged last month, the BBC postponed a screening of its documentary about Gough's 400-mile (644km) naked walk from Scotland to his home in Eastleigh, Hampshire, which earned him his nickname.