A rambler attempting to walk from Land's End to John O'Groats in the nude has vowed to carry on with his attempt after being released from prison in the Highlands. Steve Gough - from Eastleigh in Hampshire - was jailed in Inverness last week after being arrested as he walked into the city with no clothes on. He was released on bail after promising the sheriff court he would not commit any more offences.
But outside the court Mr Gough, who has been detained by police 13 times since setting off on his trek from in June, said he planned to finish the final 120 miles. He declared: "It is nice to be out of prison, but a bit strange to have clothes on. I will be continuing to walk to John O'Groats tonight and I would like to see the back of Inverness for a while."
Mr Gough, a former Royal Marine, added: "I don't think I am committing any crimes. I carried on my protest in prison and was kept in solitary confinement because of that."
He appeared in court in a scarlet jail blanket, held shut by a police officer, to plead not guilty to breach of the peace. After being granted bail, though, he emerged from the court building fully clothed. He promised that once he was away from the glare of publicity he would strip-off and attempt to continue his walk away from the public eye to avoid being arrested again.
Mr Gough set off from Land's End, commonly thought to England's most southerly point, in June for the 847-mile walk. The trip is a protest against what he sees as antiquated attitudes towards nakedness. Mr Gough claims that he is a "normal guy" not an exhibitionist, a naturist or a nudist. He said that there is nothing indecent about the naked body so there is no reason why he should be arrested.
