A Right to be Naked protester who danced naked outside Buckingham Palace has walked free from court.

Jonathan Cato, formerly of Crescent Road, Cowley, Oxford, was found guilty at Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court, London, of using insulting words and behaviour and assaulting police in a later incident.

Magistrate Timothy Workman imposed a 12-month conditional discharge for the protest and a 28-day jail term for assault. However, Cato had already served this sentence because he spent 20 days in custody on remand. He was ordered to pay £50 compensation to the officer. Mr Workman told him: "As far as your demonstration was concerned, I think that was unwise."

Cato, bearded and sporting a bone through his nose, said he went to the Right to be Naked protest to back his 'primitive back-to-nature life.

After his arrest Cato appeared at Bow Street magistrates court where he was bailed with a condition not to go within three miles of Piccadilly Circus, London.

But on July 28 Cato was spotted outside the Royal Courts of Justice. He was arrested and during a struggle at Charing Cross police station head-butted Pc Laurie Handley.

He said he felt threatened and did not want his body piercings removed.

Story date: Saturday 20 November

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