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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that this is turning into a waste of scarce resources

45 replies

TalkinPeace2 · 20/07/2012 19:20

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-18931494

every time he's taken to court it costs us over £1000 an hour
every time he's locked up it costs us over £750 a week
every time he's arrested diverts MORE police from the jobs we need them to do (we'll leave Simon Harwood out of that bit)

FFS he's 53, its pretty shrivelled by now. Let the daft sod walk in peace to wherever he wants to go.

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 20/07/2012 19:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OddBoots · 20/07/2012 19:25

For some reason I thought this was going to be about helium balloons and I was going to agree - it's not but I still agree.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 20/07/2012 19:25

So he won't compromise his principles to avoid breaking the law and offending people, but the police should compromise the law to accommodate this weirdo?

I see where you are coming from in that it's a waste of money, but no. The police should not pick and choose what laws they want to enforce.

littlebluechair · 20/07/2012 19:28

But if he is allowed to roam free won't we all decide to follow suit, because the entire nation is just desperate to get their kit off and hike around with a big rucksack?

Being serious though, I'm with you, it's madness to waste so much time and money.

Maybe they could just give him a ticket or something instead, start raking back some of the cash spent?

Original poster
TalkinPeace2 · 20/07/2012 19:30

euphemia
he's on a 20 year marines pension, not benefit ....

OP posts:
WithoutCaution · 20/07/2012 19:31

Have only met nude walkers once on a nice remote trail. Not a pretty sight though it didn't stop the dog going over to say hello Blush

littlebluechair · 20/07/2012 19:31

They could stick the tickets over his willy

Dprince · 20/07/2012 19:36

yes the police should let him continue because it costs money. He has been requested not to do it, but ignored it. So lets leave it be.
That's not how it works.
Bet his kids are so proud. Hmm

CaliforniaLeaving · 20/07/2012 19:37

Weird the ones who willingly wander about naked are ones I'd rather not look at

Birdsgottafly · 20/07/2012 19:40

"FFS he's 53, its pretty shrivelled by now. Let the daft sod walk in peace to wherever he wants to go."

He isn't going to walk in peace, though, it only takes a group with young children and there will be a fight about him being naked.

Then it becomes a public disorder/assault issue.

If he is allowed to break the law, then why should anyone who attacks him for upsetting their child etc be charged?

Jux · 20/07/2012 19:44

What principle is it that he won't compromise?

fireice · 20/07/2012 19:49

Presumably he behaves like this because he enjoys the response he gets. If the police stopped arresting him I expect he would find some other thing to do.

TheMysteryCat · 20/07/2012 19:49

afaicr he's been incarcerated for contempt of court, but not specifically of nudity, which isn't a crime.

i think they've tried various public disorder and breach of the peace charges, but he hasn't done either.

i actually think he's making a very valid point about the way we perceive the human body and the courts and police are risible for their responses and adamance in repeatedly locking him up.

i really hope they just let it go now and let him get on with his life.

Jux · 21/07/2012 12:14

I still don't see what principle he has at stake.

I thought public nudity was an offence?

TheMysteryCat · 21/07/2012 12:43

His point is that there is nothing wrong with the naked human form.

Nudity is not a crime. Nudity with unwanted sexual intent, e.g masturbating in public is.

He's not doing that. The police are just infuriated with him, so keep charging him with unrelated crimes.

GhostShip · 21/07/2012 12:53

The thing is we can't have one rule for one and another for another.

He looks like a bloody idiot though, doing it for a reaction.

fireice · 21/07/2012 13:08

'The police are just infuriated with him, so keep charging him with unrelated crimes.'

If he is commiting crimes does it matter whether or not they are related to his supposed great principle of being naked?

squeakytoy · 21/07/2012 13:10

"Nudity is not a crime. Nudity with unwanted sexual intent, e.g masturbating in public is."

So, you would be absolutely fine if you were in the park with your kids and a naked bloke was just wandering around in front of them?

TheMysteryCat · 21/07/2012 13:29

The only crime he's been convicted of of contempt of court for failing to comply with the judge's request that he be clothed in court.

As far as I know, he's trying to walk from Scotland to England and has been avoiding highly populated areas. Certainly not hanging around playparks.

But, actually, your point is that naked= disturbing pervert. I think it's more unpleasant that that's how he's been viewed when there's not a scrap of evidence that that is true.

TapirBackRider · 21/07/2012 14:56

He's not been avoiding highly populated areas - he was arrested for walking down the middle of the high street in my village, just as the primary school was finishing.

He's doing it to make a point - the point being (as far as I am aware) that nudity is nothing to be ashamed of.

Jux · 21/07/2012 15:05

Do you think he has nightmares where he finds himself out in public fully clothed, or in Tesco's with his pants on? Grin

Bunbaker · 21/07/2012 15:11

He sounds like an attention seeker to me. He must be made of tough stuff not to feel the cold.

TapirBackRider · 21/07/2012 15:41

Just seen the news item in the above link - Townhill is a very urban area, that leads into Dunfermline itself. If he didn't want to be seen, or attract undue attention, it's quite easy (but time consuming) to walk around the city.

But he's got ishoos a point to make Hmm

MintyMojito · 21/07/2012 15:45

I don't really understand what so bad about being naked anyway:

TapirBackRider · 21/07/2012 15:55

Nowt wrong with being naked IMO, just when you force others to witness it.