A MAN dubbed the Naked Rambler tasted his first proper day of freedom in six years yesterday and vowed to continue walking around Britain with no clothes on.
Former marine Stephen Gough, 53, said his time spent behind bars had "flown by" but added he was looking forward to seeing his children for the first time in years.
Gough, who has been sentenced numerous times for breaches of the peace, was spoken to by officers when he was freed from Perth Prison yesterday but was allowed to go on his way in an apparent shift in Tayside Police policy.
On previous occasions he has been immediately arrested by officers waiting at the gates, but yesterday he walked off, despite being naked.
He said: "My opinion is that the police have thought 'the guy's not going to give up so let's have a think about it'. Something has changed and it is good news for me."
Tayside Police confirmed last night they had decided to adopt a different stance towards the naked rambler after holding talks with him. Chief Inspector Andy McCann said: "Tayside Police has a duty to uphold the law but it also has a responsibility to act in the public interest.
"We have been working to resolve this impasse. We hope that by exercising some discretion we can find a more satis-factory conclusion for all concerned."
It has been estimated the cost involved in repeatedly arresting, prosecuting and jailing Gough over the past decade has been about £500,000.
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