Naked rambler walks free
Court clears naturist of sexual exhibitionism while out walking nude in Dordogne forest
A NAKED rambler has walked free from court in Périgueux after he was cleared of “flashing” or sexual exhibitionism while out walking on a forest track in Dordogne.
The man, a 52-year-old teacher, said it was a “relief, because it means I no longer have to fear being sent to prison just for walking ‘like Adam’.”
He had gone out for a walk at La Double, near La Roche-Chalais, last February but despite trying to make sure that no one would see him – he would hide behind a bush if he heard anyone approaching – a woman reported him to gendarmes.
When police arrived at his door he admitted what had happened but said he had been walking naked in an isolated spot so that he would not meet or bother other people.
However, the prosecutor recognised there was a question of sexual exhibitionism and the case had been continued to see if it was possible for a constitutional question to be lodged. This was refused.
The man had faced a potential sentence of a year in jail and a €15,000 fine and Sylvie Fasol, president of the Association pour la Promotion du Naturisme en Liberté (Apnel), said that she hoped that the court’s decision would set a legal precedent.
“We do not want the threat of prison to be hanging over us each time we go out walking nude."
