Jail sentence for naked rambler

Gough is walking from Land's End to John O'Groats

Naked rambler Stephen Gough has been jailed for two weeks after being found guilty of a breach of the peace while walking in Midlothian.

The 46-year-old, from Bournemouth, was naked in the dock as he was sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

He was convicted of exposing himself, causing fear and alarm and distracting drivers on the A701 on 1 September.

Gough, who is walking from Land's End to John O'Groats in the nude, had denied the charge.

He argued that walking naked in public did not constitute a breach of the peace.

Released from prison

But Sheriff Kenneth MacIver told him: "I have no doubt in my mind that walking naked through a Scottish town and along a busy road is not something which the Scottish public should be expected to deal with."

He said people were likely to be "upset, alarmed or offended" by his behaviour.

Gough, who was arrested near Bilston, said he would continue with his walk when he was released from prison.

At a previous hearing his female companion, 34-year-old Melanie Roberts from Bournemouth, admitted a reduced breach of the peace charge.

'Alarmed and shocked'

Sentence was deferred on the hairdresser, who wore a T-shirt and jeans in the dock.

During Gough's trial, 21-year-old postman William Lister said he had been "pretty alarmed and shocked" when he saw the couple walking naked apart from their socks and boots.

One police officer told the court that the couple's actions had been "totally inappropriate".

Another said that he found nudity "distasteful".