Southport Sockman

The Southport Sockman is the informal name given to one of two people person who in the mid-90's, was known around Southport, Lancashire for his work for numerous charities, all somehow relating to socks, and their use as a fundraising item. In addition to taking peoples socks the "sock man" was also prone to take photos of the socks owners so he could link the smell with each persons facial features.However, it transpired that this man was a fake and a fraud, hoarding the socks for his own sexual gratification. It later emerged that he was also a fan of sado-masochism as well as foot-fetishism. It is alleged that the Southport Sockman was prepared to pay passing individuals to assist with his depraved activities, sometimes placing their feet on either his, or another person's face, or perhaps beating the southport sockman with leather belts. When his flat was [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980603/ai_n14160935 raided by the police] , they found socks in 18-inch deep piles in places, as well as everywhere around the residence, such that one officer commented it was " [http://www.thisistrue.com/sock_it_to_me_5976.html like an explosion in a sock factory] ". After this, he was jailed and eventually sectioned under the mental health act.

He enjoyed a brief period of notoriety in the late 90's, and was even featured on television in C4's "The 11 o'clock show" in a feature named "free the southport two".

It is unclear of the Southport Sockman's fate to the present day.