Joshua Hunt, 31, arrested after motorist reported someone in black latex suit jumped out in front of her
Source: Theguardian.com.
UK – A man has appeared in court over a series of incidents in which he allegedly frightened people while wearing a black “gimp” suit.
Joshua Hunt, 31, has been accused of two counts of affray and one count each of possession of a bladed article and committing an act of outraging public decency, all of which are said to have taken place in Somerset.
Hunt, of Claverham, Somerset, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during a hearing at North Somerset magistrates court in Worle. He did not enter any pleas to the four charges he faced.
Leanne Grover, prosecuting, said that on 25 October last year a member of the public reported to police being approached by a man wearing a latex bondage suit in Cleeve.
Grover told the court: “The witness was with his friend and the defendant was seen grabbing his penis over the top of his clothing and he was wearing what is generally known as a gimp suit and the defendant had over his head a mask which was shiny in nature.
“Mr Hunt is gyrating against the floor and some of what happened is captured on mobile phones.”
The further alleged incidents took place in Bleadon, near Weston-super-Mare, on 9 May when a female motorist reported that someone wearing a black bondage suit had jumped out in front of her just after midnight.
Officers arrived three minutes after the call was received at 12.07am and detained a man nearby.
The incident constitutes one of the affray charges, while the possession of a bladed article charge relates to the lock knife allegedly found in his vehicle after he was arrested.
The prosecutor opposed bail and applied for the case to be transferred to Bristol crown court.
David Fanson, defending, did not apply for bail and Hunt was remanded into custody.
Marilyn Darg, presiding, committed the case to crown court and ordered Hunt to appear before a judge on 7 June.
She said: “We believe our powers will be insufficient to deal with this so it will be transferred to Bristol crown court. These are matters being sent to the crown court for trial and therefore we are going to remand you into custody.”
Hunt had previously been arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance in the Cleeve, Claverham and Yatton areas last October after a man was seen wearing an all-in-one black rubber suit. He remains under investigation for those incidents.
Police previously said they had received 14 reports of a man approaching people while wearing disguises, one of which was a black body suit.
PA Media contributed to this report
