'Somerset Gimp' banned from wearing black fetish suit and 'writhing on the ground' for five years
3 November 2023, 14:27 | Updated: 3 November 2023, 14:30
The 'Somerset Gimp' has been banned from wearing a black fetish suit and "writhing on the ground" for five years.
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Self-employed gardener Joshua Hunt, 32, has been made subject of a sexual risk order which prevents him from wearing any type of mask or face covering unless for medical reasons.
A district judge imposed the tough order following a hearing at Bristol Magistrates' Court.
It came just a week after Hunt was convicted of two offences under the Public Order Act of intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress.
Last week's hearing heard how a man in an all-black gimp suit terrified two female motorists in May this year in Bleadon, near Weston-super-Mare.
It was the latest in a series of incidents in which a man dressed in skin-tight dark clothing was seen writhing around on the ground and stepping out in front of cars in remote locations across North Somerset since 2018.
Witnesses from one incident in October last year saw a man wearing a gimp suit who grabbed his penis over the top of his clothing and also "gyrated against the floor", The court previously heard.
Lawrence Wilcox, representing Avon and Somerset Police, told Friday's hearing that Hunt had been linked to 25 incidents in total.
"The evidence of the earlier incidents is based upon intelligence reports and the latter reports is more specific," he said.
"But, we say, if the court is satisfied that the intelligence of the earlier incidents were of a sexual nature and committed by the defendant; there is material within that bundle that relates to that of a sexual nature and the acceptance of necessity."
Peter Richardson, defending, said Hunt had taken a "pragmatic and practical approach" to the application.
"We are not contesting the application but that is not the same as agreeing with everything that is set out," he said.
The sexual risk order was imposed for five years and also means Hunt is on the sex offenders' register for the same period.
Among the restrictions, Hunt is banned from:
- Wearing any type of mask or face covering, including improvised mask or face coverings that cover all or part of the face, in any public place, including whilst in a vehicle in a public place, unless officially required for medical purposes or by law.
- Being in possession of any type of mask or face covering, including improvised masks or face coverings that cover all or part of the face, in a public place, including whilst in a vehicle in a public place, between the hours of 2100 and 0600 unless officially required for medical purposes or by law.
- Wearing or being in possession of black all-in-one garments or any combination of full-length black coloured top and black coloured bottom clothing which has the appearance of an all-in-one garment, in a public place, including in a vehicle in a public place between the hours of 2100 and 0600.
- Crawling, wriggling or writhing on the ground in a public place whilst wearing a full-body covering, clothing that appears like a full body covering and/or mask/full face covering.
There are also restrictions on his computer use and access to the internet.
Imposing the order, District Judge Joanna Dickens said: "I am satisfied that you have done a series of acts of a sexual nature.
"I have been informed what they are, and they certainly fall within the terms of the Act.
"They are clearly acts of a sexual nature with a sexual element to them.
"A sexual risk order is quite a serious order, and it has a lot of obligations of you and if you breach this order you can go to prison.
"I only make an order if I think it is necessary to protect the public from you and I do think it is necessary."
His trial last week heard that when Hunt was arrested in May this year, he told police: "I am not a gimp, I do not own a gimp suit.
"I am not in a gimp suit. I am not dangerous, I am a normal person, I have got a few problems."
He had also researched news and videos online about the Somerset Gimp who had been terrorising people late at night since 2018.
The farmer's son had previously been arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance in connection with a series of incidents in the Cleeve, Claverham and Yatton areas last year.
But due to insufficient evidence no further action was taken.
