A MAN who ran naked through Grimsby's East Marsh after taking legal highs was praised by magistrates for speaking out against drugs.
Alistair McRae, 20, of Aylesby House, Immingham, admitted outraging public decency at around 2pm on March 29.
He later told how he "freaked out" because he had taken a couple of legal highs.
He featured on the front page of the Grimsby Telegraph advising people not to take similar substances, recounting that doing so "was not worth it".
McRae was sentenced to 220 hours of unpaid work at Grimsby Magistrates' Court.
He was also given a one-year community order and must pay £185 costs and a £60 victims' surcharge.
The presiding magistrate, Stephanie Scott, said: "We admire that you have been brave enough to speak out publicly. It is a credit to you."
She said: "It is high (the number of hours of unpaid work) because it was mid-afternoon, in a public place and in the presence of children.
"That makes it more serious. Extra police had to be called to deal with you."
McRae also admitted resisting PC Cave in the execution of his duty in the same incident.
After an earlier hearing in court, McRae told the Grimsby Telegraph he would never again consume a legal high and advised other people not to do as he did.
He said: "Taking legal highs is not worth it."
He added: "I have learned my lesson. I'm sticking to snooker and a couple of beers in future."
He described the experience as "being like a bear" and said he was relieved to be arrested.
McRae told: "I can't remember much, but I went outside and took all my clothes off and asked someone to call the police or an ambulance.
"When the police arrived I slumped on the bonnet of the car. Everything in my body was aching and my stomach felt twisted.
"In the ambulance I thought I was dying and told the paramedics I loved my family. I was scared for my life."
He lost his job as a gas analyst of two years at BOC at Stallingborough.
Magistrates heard he was seen running around naked and when a PCSO arrived he "exposed himself fully" before he ran "up and down the road".
For McRae, Graham Ives said: "As a result of the case being reported in the paper he lost his job. He is fully remorseful, embarrassed and sorry."
He said his client had consumed legal highs and "behaved foolishly".
Mr Ives said: "He has learned his lesson."
Holding up a copy of the Grimsby Telegraph, the solicitor said his client had given an interview to the paper and highlighted the dangers of taking legal highs.
Mr Ives said: "That is a step in the right direction."
After the court case, McRae said he had sent out CVs to a number of prospective employers.
He said he is looking for work and hopes his qualifications as a fork lift driver, with experience in first aid and fire fighting, will secure him a new job to help him rebuild his life.
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