THE shocked parents of a Burnley art student prosecuted for walking naked through the centre of London today promised to give him a good talking to when he came home.

Richard John Chaffer, 22, of Southern Avenue, was bound over for 12 months in the sum of £50 when he appeared at Bow Street Magistrates Court, London.

He broke the news of his naked escapade to his parents, former teachers Tom and Mary Chaffer, over the telephone.

Richard, a former pupil at Habergham High School, Burnley, was arrested along with other demonstrators campaigning for the right to be naked in the street as they revealed all during a chaotic scene outside the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand, the magistrates were told.

"I'm not thrilled about this at all," said Mrs Chaffer. "We want him back home so that we can sit down and talk to him about all this.

"We've taken the softly softly approach in the past, but perhaps now it's time for the hard word.

"He's always been such a really good lad. He's never done anything like this at all before. He's never even been in a demonstration or anything like that. "He said he was holding his rucksack in front of himself. I told him he wouldn't have done anything like that three years ago. He comes across nudity through his art work, but there is a lot of difference between that and walking down the street with no clothes on.

"We're sure he's got involved with some bad people and they are a bad influence on him. This isn't like him at all."

Richard, who has just completed a fine art degree at Coventry University, told the court: "I just think the human body is not anything to hide and we are all human beings. I don't think there is anything indecent about being naked."

The court was told Richard was not shouting out but simply walking down the road with nothing on. He was arrested for breach of the peace and got dressed in a police van as it took him to Charing Cross police station.

He is due home in the next week or so.

Mr Chaffer used to teach at Towneley High School, Burnley, while his wife taught at primary schools in the town including St Peter's.

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