Claverham man appears in court over incidents involving latex body suit
31-year-old Joshua Hunt is accused of two counts of affray, one count of possession of a bladed article and a further count of committing an act of outraging public decency
Last updated 15th Jun 2024
A man from Claverham has today appeared before magistrates following a series of incidents involving someone wearing a black gimp suit in North Somerset.
31-year-old Joshua Hunt is accused of two counts of affray, one count of possession of a bladed article and a further count of committing an act of outraging public decency.
The charges relate to two incidents in Bleadon over the past week, as well as one in Cleeve on the 25th of October last year.
One of the affray charges and the possession of a bladed article charge relates to an incident in Bleadon, near Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, on May 9.
The second affray charge relates to an incident in the same area on May 7, while the outraging public decency charge relates to an incident in Cleeve on October 25 last year.
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 faces.
Leanne Grover, prosecuting, told the court the offences related to incidents said to have taken place in Somerset.
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 justice, committed the case to Bristol Crown Court and ordered Hunt to appear before a judge on June 7.
"We believe our powers will be insufficient to deal with this so it will be transferred to Bristol Crown Court," she said.
"These are matters being sent to the crown court for trial and therefore we are going to remand you into custody."
Read more: Arrest after another sighting of "Somerset Gimp Man"