A MAN stripped off in the centre of Southampton after claiming his clothes were infested with rats.

A music teacher living over a cafe in Above Bar Street was expecting a young student when she received a text message warning her that a naked man was outside the building.

Tarron Crutcher was arrested and charged with breaching a criminal behaviour order.

Daily Echo:

Nick Tucker, prosecuting, told Southampton Crown Court that the teacher was preparing to give a lesson when she was warned about a nude man who was clutching a yellow pair of shorts.

Mr Tucker added: “At intervals he picked them up and tried to cover himself up.

“When challenged Crutcher said he was getting changed. He said he had rats in his clothes and could hear a hissing sound.”

Crutcher, 29, of no fixed address, was arrested and questioned about the incident but told police he had a blanket around him the whole time.

Judge Peter Henry told him: “You are a comparatively young man but you have a lot of convictions for anti-social behaviour. You were given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order and have breached it yet again.

Daily Echo:

“You are suffering from a mental health disorder but you still have a responsibility to society.

“You were found naked outside a property where a woman was about to give a music lesson. You caused considerable distress.”

Crutcher, who admitted the offence, was handed an 18-month community order and told he must live at Patrick House, Southampton, which offers support and accommodation for young people.

In July 2017 he appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court and was given a six-month suspended sentence for a previous breach of the order.

The court heard he stripped naked because he thought he had bugs in his clothes.