The continuing treatment of the Naked Rambler is ”beyond ridiculous”, according to fellow naturist and supporter Bernard Boase.
Disclosing Stephen Gough, who is awaiting sentence after walking naked through west Fife, was considering taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights, Mr Boase said: ”I am just one of a number of people who feel the whole thing is beyond ridiculous now and should cease. It should not depend on Stephen caving in to pressure.”
The Naked Rambler was found guilty of breach of the peace after a trial at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court last week for conducting himself in a disorderly manner by walking naked near a children’s play park in Townhill and refusing to put clothes on or move away on July 20.
The incident took place only three days after the former marine had been released from Perth Prison, where he has languished for most of the last six years.
Mr Boase called the sheriff’s decision, which saw Mr Gough return to solitary confinement in jail as he awaits sentencing, ”deeply myopic”.
”Human rights have scarcely looked more unequal than in the last 10 days,” he said. ”First there was the international condemnation of a Russian court’s sentencing of Pussy Riot. Then came the Naked Rambler’s appearance in a Fife court.
”Perhaps it is easier to feel righteous about another country’s despotic treatment of its citizens than about one’s own country’s attitude to a harmless eccentric. But that is no reason to gloss over the human rights issues.”
Mr Gough was, he said, simply a man who understood humanity includes the human body.
”His attitude is that he feels what he is doing is totally right and in no way criminal and therefore feels that point still has to be made. He feels if it has to be made in Scotland it has to be made in Scotland.”
Taking away his liberty, jail-imposed sanctions had also compromised his health, both mentally and physically, he claimed a matter he was taking to the European Court of Human Rights.
Mr Boase said his friend first revealed he had started action in a letter last February.
”He wanted to start a second action, but he did not have the legal support for that, to do with his treatment in prison,” he said. ”I am not sure if either have proceeded.”
Mr Gough will appear again next month for sentencing after the sheriff ordered a mental health assessment to be carried out after Mr Gough broke down in tears.
Mr Boase was in no doubt an independent assessment would give Mr Gough ”no trouble” as his irregular correspondence showed him to be lucid.
Asking for him to be released on compassionate grounds, so he could see his children as ”he is worried about his family”, Mr Boase urged Scotland to show some ”independent spirit” and see him tolerated or ignored.
”After all real criminals are locked up and rehabilitated and Stephen Gough isn’t one of them,” he added.
Photo David Wardle