A naturist who brought the centre of London to a s

A naturist who brought the centre of London to a standstill as he demonstrated bare cheek today (Thurs) lost his appeal against a conviction for disorderly behaviour.

Vincent Bethell scaled an ornamental lampost in the Strand yards from St Clement Dane’s Church and in the shadow of the Royal Courts of Justice, to preach to gaping crowds the ‘human body is beautiful.

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But traffic slowed to a crawl as crowds spilled into the road as the 27-year-old protested for the right for ‘Freedom to be Ourselves.

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London’s Southwark Crown Court heard wearing his birthday-suit and a rucksack emblazoned with the word ‘Freedom’, bearded Bethell won the attentions of the Press and laughter from unbelieving passers-by and tourists.

However, some people had clearly been ‘disgusted.

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Bethell, of (208) Foleshill Road, Coventry, was fined pnds stlng 150 and ordered to pay pnds stlng 75 costs after the incident on July 25 last year.

Appealing against the conviction, he claimed it had been an abuse of his human rights and the human body was ‘normal, natural, and beautiful.

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He told the court he was handing out leaflets backing his campaign.

‘I was not trying to cause distress or disorder but communicate that people should have the freedom to be themselves.

I see the human body as a beautiful thing,’ he said.

‘I keep getting arrested for what I consider to be no valid reason.

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I cannot understand how a right thinking member of society would think a naked man is an offensive sight.

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He maintained the atmosphere had been ‘cheerful’ throughout.

Rejecting the appeal, and ordering Bethell to pay a further pnds stlng 105 in costs, Judge Geoffrey Mercer, sitting with magistrates, said plainly the naturist ‘believes strongly everyone should be free to go about without clothing wherever they please.

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He said reaction to the protest was clearly mixed ‘including some who expressed disgust and offence, and others irritated by the traffic congestion, and police officers concerned about safety.

‘We are satisfied Bethell did intend and was certainly aware his behaviour was disorderly.

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Earlier the court heard police at first tried to bring Bethell 20 feet down a ladder but the tool was simply kicked away.

Finally, a scaffold platform was needed to bring the protester to earth in handcuffs.

ends