Rambler Stephen Gough wants to stand trial naked

Stephen Gough refuses to wear clothes in prison or in court

Lawyers for Stephen Gough, the man known as the naked rambler, have told a court he wishes to stand trial with no clothes on.

Mr Gough was due to appear at Oxford Crown Court for allegedly outraging public decency.

But he was represented in his absence after the court refused his request to stand in the dock naked.

Police confirmed the 53-year-old, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, was arrested in Carterton, Oxfordshire on 4 December.

The former marine served a five-month prison sentence in Scotland for a breach of the peace at a children's play park in Dunfermline, Fife in July.

Upon his release in October, he set off walking with no clothes on.

Mr Gough's lawyers have cited a previous case of a man being allowed to stand trial naked.

In 2001, activist Vincent Bethell was granted permission to have no clothes on during his trial at Southwark Crown Court for allegedly causing a public nuisance. He was later acquitted by a jury.

Mr Gough is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court for a plea and directions hearing on 20 February and is expected to stand trial in June.