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Naked Cyclist Attacked: Vigilante Binman Strikes
21 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Naked cyclist was punched and knocked off bike by binman.
- Attacker mistook cyclists for 'perverts' in naked ride.
- Calls grow to ban naked bike rides due to safety fears.
A cyclist participating in a World Naked Bike Ride in Colchester, Essex, was violently assaulted by a binman who perceived the nude riders as 'perverts.' The binman, identified as Lee Turnage, 46, punched the cyclist, causing him to fall from his bike and sustain injuries. Turnage later received a suspended prison sentence for this assault and for attacking police officers.
This incident has led to renewed demands for a ban on the World Naked Bike Ride. Critics, like Emma-Jane Taylor who launched a campaign against the event, fear further incidents and argue that councils and police are not adequately addressing the safety and child protection concerns associated with the rides.
World Naked Bike Ride organizers state that their event does not breach the Sexual Offences Act, as public nudity is not an offense unless intended to cause alarm or distress. They participate to protest car culture, advocate for safer cycling, and highlight environmental issues.
