Complaint lodged over naked Fourth Plinther

Peter Dominiczak12 April 2012

An official complaint has been lodged with the police after a man stood naked for an hour on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.

Justin Holwell stripped at the start of his one-hour slot at 2pm on Sunday as part of artist Antony Gormley's One and Other project.

Mark Williams-Thomas, a former detective constable with Surrey Police, complained that his wife and children were "annoyed and upset" by the strip and he "fully expected that the surrounding police or organisers would stop this man". However, officers refused to remove Mr Holwell as it is not a crime to appear naked in public.

Mr Holwell, 24, of Loughborough, said he confirmed with organisers that he would be permitted to undress. "When I decided to go on this, I didn't really have any idea what to do. I was chatting to my mates about it, they see me as a bit of an exhibitionist, this seemed the natural way to go," he said.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "This complaint is currently being considered, and the complainant will be notified in due course."

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