A self-employed gardener named Joshua Hunt has been found guilty of being the ‘Somerset Gimp’. He terrified female motorists driving home at night by dressing in a black gimp suit. One female driver witnessed Hunt writhing around on the ground, while another was left shaking and crying. Today, Hunt was convicted at Bristol Magistrates’ Court of two offences under the Public Order Act for causing intentional harassment, alarm, or distress.
The bizarre incidents occurred in rural Somerset on May 7 and May 9 of this year in Bleadon, near Weston-super-Mare. When Hunt was arrested shortly after the second Incident, he denied being the ‘Somerset Gimp’ and claimed he did not own a gimp suit. However, he was still found guilty.
District Judge Joanna Dickens imposed a £100 fine on Hunt and ordered him to pay £200 compensation to each of his victims, along with £620 in prosecution costs. She acknowledged that Hunt had apologized and spent one month in prison on remand earlier this year.
It is worth noting that Hunt had previously been arrested for similar ‘gimp’ incidents in the Cleeve, Claverham, and Yatton areas last year. However, no further action was taken due to insufficient evidence.
If you have any information about the Somerset Gimp, please email: [email protected] and Somerset Police conducted a hunt as part of their investigation. They recovered a mask and clothing from Joshua Hunt, who has been found guilty of two Public Order Act offences. The clothing recovered from Hunt was linked to his conviction as the ‘Somerset Gimp’. Hunt had previously been arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance in connection with a series of incidents in the Cleeve, Claverham, and Yatton areas. However, it has not been proven that the person in a picture from 2019 is Hunt. In one incident in May, motorist Lucy Lodge witnessed something moving on the ground along Accommodation Road in Bleadon.A man accused of terrifying women by jumping out dressed in a black latex suit has arrived in court. The man was seen writhing and crawling in a military fashion, wearing tight, dark clothing and a mask with white crosses for eyes. One witness believed it could be a possible abduction and felt terrified. Another witness saw the man commando crawling on the floor. Just 24 hours later, another woman encountered the man and felt sheer horror. She was scared by his presence and feared for her safety. The man has been convicted and a mugshot has been released by the police.Avon and Somerset Police have released a mugshot of Joshua Hunt after his conviction. Hunt was seen leaving Bristol Magistrates’ Court following his sentencing. Witnesses, including Ms Brown’s sister-in-law Chloe Smith, expressed fear and concern over Hunt’s actions, as he was dressed in a black latex suit and appeared in dark areas.
The police have provided statements from the victims of the incidents that occurred on May 7 and May 9. One victim described the person in the black suit with white crosses over their eyes as frightening and panic-inducing. She felt paranoid and believed it could be an abduction attempt. She described the scene as something out of a horror movie and stated that it was the most scared she had ever been. The other victim also expressed fear and described the incident as the worst night of her life. She quit her job due to the constant fear she experienced while traveling. Both victims still think about the incidents and feel dread when it’s time to go home from work.A teenager in a car expressed his anger and concern after encountering a man who frightened his companions. The police responded to reports of a second incident and located a van in a field in Bleadon. They decided to stop the van, and PC Declan Coppock spoke to the defendant, who was subsequently arrested. The officer noticed that the defendant’s skin was wet, suggesting he had been lying on the side of the road. During the search, the defendant told the officers they could remove the handcuffs and claimed to be a normal person with a few problems. The search revealed that the defendant was not wearing a T-shirt or underwear, and his van contained wet black clothing, women’s tights, face masks, gloves, and neon white paint. The court heard that the defendant explained his mental health had been in crisis due to medication issues and expressed a desire for help. A search of the defendant’s home uncovered a journal with a story about someone named Jack who purchases a black rubber suit and mask with white paint. The defendant had also conducted internet searches related to the “Somerset Gimp” and the “Gimp of Cleeve.” In court, the defendant testified that he had been in a traumatic state of mind and was seeking support from the Samaritans and counseling. He admitted to going out at night and changing into black clothing for “mudding,” a practice that involves getting covered in mud. The defendant clarified that the clothing and face masks were solely for this purpose.From time to time, I feel self-loathing because I have a negative view of myself. It is a way for me to release my negative emotions and feel a sense of relief. I cover myself in filth as a metaphor for how I feel about myself.
During the court proceedings, Hunt admitted that on two occasions he had contemplated suicide by being hit by a car while standing on the side of the road. He expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged that he had not considered the fear he may have caused others.
Under cross-examination, Hunt described how he would engage in a recreational activity called mudding at the estuary. He clarified that he only participated in this activity in discreet locations, even though it is a public place.
The prosecutor questioned why Hunt did not engage in mudding on his own private land instead of going to Accommodation Road. Hunt denied the suggestion that he wanted to be seen and shock people. He maintained that all his mudding activities were done discreetly.
The district judge emphasized that the key issue in this case was whether Hunt intentionally caused harassment, alarm, and distress. She acknowledged that Hunt had accepted responsibility for causing distress and had apologized for his actions.
The judge also noted that Hunt had been suffering from a serious depressive episode and was unwell during the incidents. She highlighted that Hunt was highly visible and wearing a peculiar outfit, which made his actions difficult to comprehend. The judge expressed skepticism about Hunt’s explanation for his costume and believed that there was an intention to cause fear and distress.
In conclusion, the article discusses Hunt’s self-loathing, his admission of contemplating suicide, his apology for causing distress, and the judge’s assessment of his mental state and intentions.Judge Dickens found Hunt guilty of two offences under Section 4A of the Public Order Act. She acknowledged that Hunt had already spent a month in prison before his trial, which she considered to be a more significant punishment than any sentence she could impose.
Initially, the Crown Prosecution Service authorized charges of affray and other offenses in relation to the incidents on May 9, two days earlier in Bleadon, and in October of the previous year in Cleeve. However, these charges were later reviewed according to the Code for Crown Prosecutors, leading to alternative charges under Section 4A of the Public Order Act – intentionally causing harassment, alarm, or distress – being brought for the two Bleadon incidents.
After the case, Avon and Somerset Police Chief Inspector Jonny Murray, policing commander for North Somerset, expressed concern about the masks worn by Joshua Hunt, which were made out of tights and had faces drawn on them. He stated that these masks terrified the people Hunt jumped out on and caused genuine fear for their safety. The police took all reports of this behavior seriously, conducting high visibility patrols and assigning a senior detective to review all reported incidents.
Police have also requested that magistrates impose a Sexual Risk Order on Hunt due to concerns about a potential sexual motivation behind the offenses.An interim civil order has been granted, and a further hearing is scheduled for November 3. Along with criminal charges, an interim Sexual Risk Order has also been granted, which prohibits Hunt from possessing certain items of clothing and engaging in specific behaviors. If he violates this condition, he may be arrested. The unacceptable behavior has prompted the initiation of criminal charges and civil proceedings to send a clear message that such offenses will not be tolerated. For confidential support, individuals can contact the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local branch. More information is available at samaritans.org.
The post Gardener, 32, is found guilty of being the ‘Somerset Gimp’ appeared first on Rush Hour Daily News | Breaking News, U.S & World News, Politics & Opinions - News around the Worlds.
