Naked rambler fined by UK court

A man who rambled through a popular beauty spot naked except for a backpack, boots and a baseball cap has been fined £315 (€378.16).

Nigel Keer (aged 41) was found guilty at Leeds Magistrates’ Court of a public order offence after causing distress to a woman who was walking her dog.

The committed naturist kept score of the number of positive reactions versus adverse reactions he received on his naked tea-time stroll at Otley Chevin in Leeds on October 2 last year.

The court heard the score was 15-0 in his favour until an off-duty police officer apprehended him after seeing a woman looking at Keer with a “disgusted frown”.

Pc Mark Buxton arrested Keer and ordered him to get dressed, which he did after pulling some clothes out of his backpack.

Pc Buxton, who was out running at the time, told the court: “She had a disgusted frown across her face.

“I saw her turning around, I could tell she was upset about something.”

On seeing Keer walking naked through the fields, Pc Buxton said he did not believe what he initially saw and carried on running before doing a double-take.

“I was so shocked and surprised and to some degree alarmed by what I had just seen,” he said.

Keer, from the Cottingley area of Leeds, maintained throughout the trial that he did not mean to cause distress or provoke a reaction and said “being naked is not an offence”.

He added that he did not believe that the woman referred to by Pc Buxton existed.

Judge Christopher Darnton said: “I do accept that Mr Keer is a naturist but I note with some interest that he would not walk with his clothes off in the city centre of Leeds.

“On this occasion a lady was clearly distressed by what she had seen going on.”