Meet the ‘Gimp Man of Essex’ who’s raising money for charity
A rubber fetishist who raises money by going out in public in a bondage suit says he’s also doing it to challenge stereotypes.
‘The Gimp Man of Essex’ says most people who meet him on the streets are friendly, but he has been called “a paedophile or a pervert” by a small minority.
“When I first starting going out in my suit, someone suggested I could make a charity thing out of it,” he told BBC Essex. “I could go round and do some good.
“People call me a legend, but I only donate a few hundred quid and walk round looking a fool.”
‘The Gimp Man of Essex’ gives £1 to mental health charity Colchester Mind every time someone posts a photo with him to his Facebook page, which has more than 3,300 likes.
James McQuiggan, chief executive of Colchester Mind, said the charity was thankful for Gimp Man’s support and donations.
Gimp Man, whose wife and children are unaware of his alter ego, said he does not go out during school holidays or at weekends.
“Most people are very welcoming when I tell them what it’s all about,” he said. “I don’t go round to scare the life out of people.
“I’ve been called a nutter before, but I don’t react to comments like that.”
“Some people make assumptions that I am a paedophile or a pervert, and think I must be into some horrible things,” he said.
“I’m adult enough to realise people look at the negatives in everything.
“But people are a lot more open minded nowadays. And at the end of the day, you can walk along the beach and see a lot more than I’m exposing!”
Gimp Man has so far raised more than £850 for Mind Colchester. His JustGiving page is here
