5:48PM, Fri Mar 30, 2012

Charges Against Turner Prize Streaker In A Pink Tutu Dismissed

By James Marley Location: Gateshead

A man who ran on stage wearing nothing but a pink tutu during the Turner Prize award ceremony has walked free from court.

Mark Roberts ran onto the stage with "Study This!" scrawled on his chest in marker pen, just as celebrity photographer, Mario Testino was about to announce the winner live on television.

Witnesses said Roberts genitals could be seen through the mesh outfit as he jumped on stage and disrupted the ceremony.

Appearing at Gateshead Magistrates Court for trial, wearing a white short sleeved shirt and cream trousers, Roberts pleaded not guilty to a single charge under the section 5 public order offence. The case was dismissed by magistrates.

The 47-year-old 'performance artist' claimed that his actions did not cause alarm to anyone and that the audience were 'laughing, clapping and cheering.'

The court was shown a clip of the event on December 5 2011 at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.

Around 260 people attended the prize-giving which saw Martin Boyce awarded the Turner Prize.

Baltic head of building services, James Johnson who was present at the ceremony, gave evidence.

He said: "He was wearing a pink tutu and nothing else, with his genitals exposed. There were people with shock on their faces who were alarmed and shaking their heads in disgust."

Roberts was detained in a holding room at the art gallery before Northumbria Police arrived to arrest him.

He was interviewed by PC Joanna Breen and a colleague.

Giving evidence, PC Breen of Northumbria Police, said: "Apart from a pink tutu he was completely naked when we saw him in the holding room.

"The tutu was made of mesh material so we could see straight through it."

Roberts, of Dewsbury Road, Anfield, Liverpool answered some of the questions before replying to police questions with the statement: "Art is everywhere."

He said: "I'm a performance artist mixed with street art and contemporary art.

"I usually take my clothes off and run around and act daft. I've performed in stadiums around the world for eight years.

"Everyone was laughing, clapping and cheering. One of the security guards shook my hand and the other gave me a high five. I just want to put a smile on people's faces."