A man is to face trial accused of offences relating to reports of a person wearing a black “gimp” suit in two Somerset villages.
Joshua Hunt, 32, is accused of two charges of putting someone in fear of provocation or violence under section 4 of the Public Order Act.
North Somerset magistrates court heard the two alleged offences relate to incidents on 7 and 9 May in Bleadon and Cleeve in Somerset.
Previous hearings have heard that female motorists driving at night reported to the police seeing a man in a black costume.
The defendant is accused of “using towards another person threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence will be used against him or another by any person”.
Hunt appeared in court in Bristol last week where he was given an interim sexual harm prevention order restricting his alleged behaviour.
Under the terms of the order, which expires in January next year, Hunt is banned from wearing a mask or possessing one in a public place, or wearing black all-in-one clothing. He was also told he must not crawl, wriggle or writhe on the ground wearing a full-body covering or mask.
At Tuesday’s hearing at North Somerset magistrates court, Hunt, of Claverham, Somerset spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.
He shook his head to deny the two charges.
A trial date was not fixed but a case management hearing will take place before a district judge at Taunton magistrates court on 16 August.
Eileen Westwood, the presiding justice, released Hunt on unconditional bail until the next hearing.
“You pleaded not guilty to these offences and your case is going to be listed for the district judge to hear,” she said.
