'Gimp Man of Essex': Rubber fetishist dresses in gimp suit around town to raise money for charity and spark debate on stereotypes

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Essex man wants to challenge stereotypes on sex and fetishes like BDSM
Wears full rubber bondage suit and walks around streets of Essex towns
Has raised more than £800 for mental health charity Colchester Mind
Donates £1 every time someone uploads photo with him to Facebook page
Most reaction is friendly, though some brand him a 'paedophile or pervert'
Not even his wife and children know about his alter-ego's exploits

Published: 05:33 EDT, 21 September 2014 | Updated: 05:34 EDT, 21 September 2014

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We know all about Superman, Spider-Man and Batman - but now Essex has a 'superhero' of its own - and his power is challenging stereotypes.

'The Gimp Man of Essex' walks around towns dressed in a full rubber bondage suit - used in sexual activities such as bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadism and masochism (BDSM).

He wants to start a public debate about sexual stereotypes, and is raising money for charity as he goes.

Fetish-friendly fun: 'The Gimp Man of Essex' is raising money for charity and challenging stereotypes

Sexual healing: He donates £1 to charity every time someone uploads a picture with him to his Facebook page

Changing attitudes: Gimp Man wants to help people to think more openly about sex and fetishes

Every time someone stops to take a picture of him and posts it to his Facebook page - which has more than 2,500 likes - he donates £1 to mental health charity Colchester Mind.

He has raised more than £800 so far - with one anonymous person donating £500 to his JustGiving page yesterday, along with the message: 'Love this - what an inspiration. Congratulations, and keep up the good work!'

Much like his superhero counterparts, 'Gimp Man' likes to keep his identity a secret - not even his wife and children know about his fetish-friendly exploits.

Mind of matter: He has raised more than £800 for mental health charity Colchester Mind so far

Man about town: He has been spotted all over Essex, including the towns of Colchester and Clacton

BDS-ATM: Just because he is wearing a gimp suit doesn't mean Gimp Man can't go about everyday tasks

He does not go out at weekends or during school holidays, and says most of the reaction he gets from people on the streets is positive and friendly - though he does occasionally get branded 'a paedophile or pervert'.

'Most people are very welcoming when I tell them what it's all about,' he told the BBC. 'I don't go round to scare the life out of people.

'People call me a legend, but I only donate a few hundred quid and walk round looking a fool.'

The superhero we need right now: The fetishist likes to keep his true identity hidden

Gimp Man says he is 'adult enough' to realise that people will see the negatives in everything, but it is these people's perceptions he is hoping to change.

'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!' he said.

Gimp Man's jaunts around the streets of Colchester, Clacton and other Essex towns were not initially a charity venture - it was only when someone suggested to him that he could raise some money that he decided on the idea of helping Colchester Mind.

The charity's chief executive, James McQuiggan, says they are very grateful for all of his support and donations.