A man has appeared in court following a series of incidents involving someone terrorising villagers in Somerset while wearing a gimp suit.
Joshua Hunt, 31, is accused of two counts of affray and one count each of possession of a bladed article and committing an act of outraging public decency.
One of the affray charges and the alleged possession of a bladed article offence is in relation to an incident on Monday in Bleadon, near Western-super-Mare.
The second affray charge is over an incident in the same area on 7 May, while the outraging public decency charge relates to an incident in Cleeve on 25 October last year.
Hunt, of Claverham, Somerset spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during a hearing at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court in Worle on Wednesday.
He did not enter any pleas to the four charges he is accused of.
Prosecutor Leanne Grover told the court a member of the public reported being approached by a man wearing a “gimp suit” to police in October last year.
The further alleged incidents took place earlier this week when female motorists saw a man in the street dressed in a black costume.
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And the court heard the fourth charge relates to a lock knife allegedly found in Hunt’s vehicle after he was arrested.
Ms Grover opposed bail and applied for the case to be transferred to Bristol Crown Court.
Defence lawyer David Fanson did not apply for bail and Hunt was remanded into custody.
Marilyn Darg, presiding justice, committed the case to Bristol Crown Court and ordered the defendant to appear before a judge on 7 June.
“We believe our powers will be insufficient to deal with this so it will be transferred to Bristol Crown Court,” she said.
“These are matters being sent to the crown court for trial and therefore we are going to remand you into custody.”
