EXCLUSIVE: Pictured: Man suspected of being the Somerset Gimp appears in court accused of leaving women terrified by jumping out at them in country lanes dressed in a black latex suit
- Joshua Hunt, 31, appeared in court over the so-called Somerset Gimp incidents
This is the man who appeared in court today accused of dressing in an all black latex full body outfit to terrorise women as the so-called ‘Somerset Gimp’.
Joshua Hunt, 31, appeared in North Somerset Magistrates Court charged in connection with a series of incidents in the area.
The defendant, of Claverham, Somerset, did not indicate any pleas to the four charges put to him.
Leanne Gover, prosecuting, alleged Hunt approached two lone women drivers on separate occasions on May 7 and 9 in the Bleadon area last year
Joshua Hunt, 31, has been charged in connection with a series of incidents in the area, including one involving the so-called ‘Somerset Gimp’
An alleged sighting of the ‘Gimp Man’ in July 2019. A man was held on suspicion of causing a public nuisance after the alleged incident near Weston-super-Mare on Monday
Both women were left fearful about what was going to happen and suffered ‘immense distress as a result’, she added.
One female was described as being ‘struck with horror’ whilst the other said she was ‘terrified’.
Following his arrest, a lock knife was allegedly found in his van.
In an incident on October 25 last year, Hunt allegedly grabbed his penis over a gimp suit whilst ‘gyrating against the floor’.
Avon and Somerset Police said a woman reported seeing a man in a latex suit jump out in front of her vehicle on Accommodation Road in Bleadon shortly after midnight on Monday
Reports of a ‘Gimp Man’ being spotted date back a few years. An alleged sighting took place in July 2019 (pictured)
On that occasion, it was witnessed by two males – who are said to have recorded the behaviour on a mobile phone. They called 999 to report the incident.
Ms Gover asked for Hunt to be remanded in custody. The defendant could be seen shaking his head vigorously at this point.
She told the court that he had made comments about taking his own life, and the Crown Prosecution Service are concerned about this own safety.
David Fanson, defending, said his client was not fit to give him instructions and was currently ‘on watch’ in the custody.
The magistrates remanded him in custody. He will next appear at Bristol Crown Court on June 7.
The hearing follows several reports over the years of a man lurking in several villages dressed in a latex suit.
