A man accused of being the notorious ‘Somerset gimp’ will go to trial in October.

32-year-old Joshua Hunt denies two charges of intentional harassment, alarm or distress under Section 4(a) of the Public Order Act.

The charges relate to incidents reported on May 7 and 9 in the Bleadon and Cleve areas. Female motorists driving at night had reported seeing a man in a full black costume to the police.

District Judge Angela Brereton, sitting at Taunton Deane magistrates court, fixed a half-day trial at Bristol magistrates court on October 27.

Hunt, of Claverham, Somerset, had been excused attendance at the case management hearing and was represented by his solicitor David Fanson.

He was released on unconditional bail until his trial.

Last month the defendant was made subject of an order placing restrictions on his alleged behaviour.

Under the terms of the interim order, which will expire in January next year, Hunt is banned from wearing a mask or possessing one in a public place and wearing black all-in-one clothing at night in public.

He also must not ‘crawl, wriggle or writhe on the ground wearing a full-body covering or mask’ or visit the areas where the offences are alleged to have taken place.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Source: Read Full Article