'Gimp Man of Essex' fights stereotypes

CHELMSFORD, England, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- A rubber-clad Briton dubbed "The Gimp Man of Essex" said his public appearances in bondage gear are intended to "start a debate" and raise money for charity.

The man, who said he has a wife and children who are unaware of his secret identity, told the BBC he ventures out into public in his "gimp suit" -- a rubber bodysuit and mask used for bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadism and masochism, or BDSM -- to "start a debate" with the public about stereotyping people.

"Some people make assumptions that I am a pedophile or a pervert, and think I must be into some horrible things," he said. "I'm adult enough to realize 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!"

The "Gimp Man" said he donates $1.63 to charity for each picture of him a member of the public posts to his Facebook fan page. He said he has donated a total $613, thus far.

"When I first starting going out in my suit, someone suggested I could make a charity thing out of it," he said. "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 said.