Man who wears skirts avoids jail for bending over in his garden

Peter Trigger was banned in December 2008 from wearing a skirt or showing bare legs on a school day between 8.30am and 10am and 2.45pm and 4pm. The order also banned him from behaving in a manner which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to others.

Magistrates in Northampton yesterday found Trigger guilty of breaching terms of the Asbo by deliberately bending over in front of his neighbours early in the morning on December 16 last year.

Trigger was given the Asbo, which runs until 2013, after parents complained he was waiting near a primary school in the town dressed in clothes similar to school uniform – a grey skirt and jumper, white shirt, baseball cap and tie.

But Northampton Magistrates' Court heard he was seen outside his house in Northampton, at 7.25am on December 16 by neighbours who told the court Trigger, who was wearing a skirt over trousers, deliberately bent down three times until they drove off.

Prosecutor Jerena Tomaszewska said that, although the 60-year-old was permitted to wear a skirt at that time of day, he had breached the second part of his Asbo by causing both Mr and Mrs Copping harassment, alarm and distress.

Trigger had told the court he had been picking up debris in his garden and on the pavement, caused by constant vandalism.

Since he is a 24-hour carer for his mother, 90, finding a time to get out of the house was difficult and he liked to take exercise early.

Magistrates imposed a 12-week curfew from 7am to 9am, fined him 100 and with 300 costs and a 15 victim surcharge.