Somerset Resident Convicted of Harassment Towards Women while Wearing Disturbing Outfit

A man named Joshua Hunt has been found guilty of intentionally harassing, alarming, or distressing female motorists while wearing a gimp suit. The incidents occurred on May 7 and May 9 in Bleadon, Somerset. One woman reported seeing Hunt writhing on the ground, while another said she was left shaken and crying after their encounter. Hunt, a self-employed gardener, denied the allegations but was subsequently fined £100 and ordered to pay £200 in compensation to each victim, as well as £620 in prosecution costs. Hunt was arrested shortly after the second incident and claimed to the police that he was not dressed in a gimp suit. Motorist Lucy Lodge, who witnessed one of the incidents, described feeling scared and unable to sleep after seeing Hunt. Another witness, Martin Mills, observed a man crawling on the ground in black clothing. Following reports of the second incident, police discovered Hunt in a white van wearing wet clothes and arrested him. Inside the van, they found various items such as women's tights, face masks, gloves, and a journal with disturbing content. During the trial, Hunt revealed that his mental health had been in crisis and that he engaged in a form of self-harm called "mudding" to cope with his self-loathing. He apologized for frightening the victims but claimed he did not intend to cause distress. The District Judge acknowledged that Hunt had already spent a month in prison before his trial, considering it a significant punishment.