A 39-year-old homeless man has been in remanded in custody on charges which include five of approaching women on the towpath of the Gloucester - Sharpness Canal and handing them notes asking them to expose their bodies.

Cheltenham Magistrates Court were told on Wednesday (November 16) that Ashley Brown, of no fixed abode, is a 'selective mute' who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and is due to see a psychiatrist shortly to assess his current mental ability to plead to a variety of charges.

District Judge Nicholas Wattam remanded Mr Brown into custody until his next hearing at the court on December 12 when a fact-finding exercise will be carried out on all charges.

Brown is charged with using threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence towards three people in Gloucester on March 31, 2022; Causing a nuisance/disturbance towards staff on NHS premises on July 12, 2022 at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital; two common assaults in Stroud on July 12, 2022; two common assaults committed on September 5 this year; five charges of 'displaying visible representation with intent to cause harassment/alarm or distress on October 17, 2022 and two charges of indecent exposure on October 18, 2022.