Super Bowl streaker goes on trial

A British man who streaked on the field of play during the Super Bowl in Houston went on trial yesterday accused of trespass.

Mark Francis Roberts, aged 39, from Liverpool, ran on to the field in a referee’s costume then stripped to a football-shaped codpiece before dancing a jig in the Reliant Stadium on February 1 as the second half of the American football championship game was about to start.

He is not charged with anything besides criminal trespassing and faces up to six months in jail and a fine if convicted.

The better-known halftime incident occurred during the musical shown when singer Janet Jackson’s right breast was exposed on worldwide television.

Most of the packed stadium did not notice that, but they did get an eyeful of Roberts as he strutted for nearly a minute before getting tackled by New England Patriots linebacker Matt Chatham and arrested by Houston police.

On Monday, jury selection was punctuated by several chuckles and guffaws as lawyers whittled the panel down from 30 people to six women.

“I’m going to tell you this will really be a fun case,” Judge Diane Bull told prospective jurors before they heard some details about Roberts’ scantily clad adventure in his first trip to Texas.

Roberts and defence lawyer Sharon Levine argue that no one told Roberts he was not allowed on the field and that a knee-high barrier in front of his front-row seat was no indication he should not advance.

“There is no fencing to exclude intruders,” Levine said during opening statements.

Prosecutor Kristin Guiney countered that while the NFL and Reliant Stadium had no signs or warnings on ticket stubs, the barrier and the sizeable drop to the field made it obvious under the law.

Police said Roberts got into the Super Bowl – and through several layers of security – with a legitimate ticket.

He wore a ref’s uniform under civilian clothes, and both outfits were held together with Velcro to allow for a quick strip.

According to his website, Roberts has streaked more than 300 times. His Super Bowl moment was his first US performance.