UK naked rambler's case dropped

LONDON, England -- A naked rambler arrested at the start of a trek from Lands End in England walked free from court after it was decided he did not commit a criminal offence.

Naturalist Steve Gough was arrested last week -- while being interviewed by a television crew -- as he began his walk from the southern peninsula of England to John O' Groats, the northern tip of Scotland in the nude.

The 44-year-old had planned to undertake the 847-mile expedition dressed only in hat, socks, boots and a rucksack to highlight his campaign for a change in nudity laws.

The freedom campaigner from Hampshire in England was charged with breaching the peace and bailed to appear before Truro Magistrates Court in Cornwall, southern England.

But prosecutor Simon Jones asked for the case to be withdrawn on Thursday as Gough had not committed a criminal offence.

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