Un-nerving Walk

[andrea31]

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I've just had one of the scarier walks of my life.

Got up late thanks to Brandy and coke last night, so decided to head out to the field for our morning constitutional later than normal. I usually head out between half 5 and half 6 in the morning.

Got to the field, let the girls off, and half way round, I heard someone cough. I'd done a scan of the field before I let the girls off, and had seen no one. Well, after hearing this cough, I really really scanned around, I knew there had to be someone there. Low and behold, there was a fella, might I say a very tall fella, baseball cap, jeans and dark coat, lurking in the bushes. He had no dog with him. I managed to get Mysti back on the lead, but Tascha was toileting, so I had to wait for her to finish. I got my mobile out, and phoned home, and got Cliff to talk to me. Finally Tascha was on the lead, and we headed straight across the field, back to the main road.

The even scarier thing was, this fella started walking in the same direction as me, keeping parrallel to me, and in pace to how fast I was going.

I eventually got back onto the main road, and said goodbye to Cliff, as there were quite a few people waiting at a bus stop, and I felt a whole lot safer.

The thing is, now that I'm home, I feel kinda stupid, Cliff wants me to phone the police, but I feel like I over reacted. What would you have done, and would you phone the police?

It's made me nervous about walking the girls now, but I know they need their walks. This particular field is not visible from the main road, and is very enclosed. The only thing that overlooks the field is the train tracks, and of course on a Sunday, the trains don't run so often.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[shane]

Inform the police, may-be nothing but seems strange, and if I was you avoid this area for a while and inform any people you know who use's the same walk.

 

[Mark Roberts]

Hi Andrea, Paula had a simlar thing a week or so ago, she phoned me I went down found the bloke pulled up he turned and walked other way after he'd seen Paula in the van with me so I turned the van round but couldnt find him again .

you should give the police a quick call and let them know the score as they can keep an eye out then and if they have already had simler reports it backs the other reports up.

got on e/bay and had some pepper sprey sent over for Paula to carry the stuff the police use in America?.

 

[Rae]

Bloody Hell Andrea - it does sound like you had a narrow escape there.

I'd definately tell the Police. They might know of other incidents - if you do tell them and it turns out to be nohting then great, but if you dont and someone is attacked.............

There might well be a logical explanation for why a man would be alone in a field in dark clothing very early in the mornign , with no dog....but I cant think of one.

Glad you are all safe :luck:

 

[»Tina«]

what a shock you must have had! :huggles: hope your feeling better now,

I was 'stalked' about a year ago when Chance and Indi were only 1 year old, I used to go for walks at the same time everyday, same place too, I noticed that everytime I went, there was the same man there, (this happened 4 times in a row) he had no dog or nothing, :blink:

my hubby started coming with me then and we never saw the man again, now I try NOT to go at the same time everyday, and I go to different places too, this way if anyone is watching you go for walks, they will not have a 'set time'

because you just don't know this man could have been watching you as you go at the same time everyday, why else would he be there at that time in the morning!

phone the police though, 3 weeks after this my cousin was walking her dog and got attacked (same place as I walked my dogs) he tryed to strangle her with her own dog chain, she only got away because someone else came with there dog and disturbed him! he ran off and was never caught!! :unsure:

 

[andrea31]

OK, I've phoned the police and logged a report, they've given me an incident number.

The thing that disturbs me most, is that kids go on that field, they walk their dogs, play rugby etc etc.

The police are circulating a report of the description I gave them, albeit a not very good one as I was too panicked at the time. They are sending someone to scout round the area, and will be keeping an eye on it for the next few days.

The sad thing is, I asked them if they could tell me if there were any paedophiles in the area, so I can keep a closer watch on my kids, and I was told they're not allowed to disclose that information to me. WTF???? I'm not asking for names, just want to know if there are any nasty gits out there so I can keep my kids safe.

Oh well, I've learned a lot from this today.

Thanks for the replies guys and gals, much appreciated.

 

[JAX]

Poor you (w00t) You must report it to the police , even if you dont see him again he might do something to somone else . Ive never had that sort of experiance :luck: but you seemed to have done the right thing by ringing Cliff .

 

[Janimal]

No you are definititely not over-reacting Andrea, Im glad youve phoned about it. :thumbsup:

Do you reguarly do the same walk Im wondering?? If so he may know that - he could have been after the dogs too - if not a defenceless woman out on her own. :rant:

It is worrying too if your kids walk the same route too (w00t) - He shouldnt be lurking there at night if he dosnt want reporting.

Let us know what happens Andrea, and Good Luck :luck: youve had a narrow escape. Silly prat he is. :rant:

 

[Scott Frodsham]

What if.....

It's just some bloke who lives near you takin an early morning stroll, gets caught short so nips for a pee in the bushes. You turn up with your dogs, he's embaressed so heads off home keeping his distance from you to hide his blushes? :b

Just a thought.

OK here's another..... if you were gonna leap out and attack somebody would you cough and alert them that you were there? (will retreat to my flame proof bunker!)

 

[~Helen~]

The sad thing is, I asked them if they could tell me if there were any paedophiles in the area, so I can keep a closer watch on my kids, and I was told they're not allowed to disclose that information to me.  WTF????  I'm not asking for names, just want to know if there are any nasty gits out there so I can keep my kids safe.

Oh well, I've learned a lot from this today.

Thanks for the replies guys and gals, much appreciated.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I think you have to assume that there are paedophiles in every area, sadly. We have a couple of hostels in a road near us - I asked our local Beat Bobby if there were paedophiles housed there and she said the same - she couldn't give me the information. But her body language and head movements were saying a very strong "yes". She then went on to say that you have to assume that there will always be paedophiles, convicted or otherwise, in every neighbourhood. That's not scare tactics, its just a fact of life and I think we have to be aware of it and teach our kids to be alert and take care of themselves and each other when they're out playing.

You did all the right things, Andrea. If anything like this happens to anyone, else the police can hopefully put the two reports together and build up a picture of this person's movements.

Thank heavens he coughed and alerted you to his presence! Like Scott says, he could have been caught short, but I think in these situations you have to trust your gut reaction to the signals the person is giving off. If you were worried, you were probably right to be.

Log onto the Suzy Lamplugh Trust website and order some of their screech/spray alarms. I carry one on every walk, and my daughters have them too (even though they roll their eyes when I ask them to make sure they have them in their pockets and not at the bottom of a rucksack). I don't want to go against what Mark says (he is LORD Roberts. after all :lol: ) but be careful using stuff that's legal in the US but illegal over here. If you use it, the law will work to protect the criminal and not you. Ridiculous, but it makes you the aggressor to have that in your possession :wacko:

Hope you feel less shaken soon :thumbsup: I had a similar experience last august with some wierdo lurking in the bushes when I was with my two girls and Josie (I kept thinking of Lin and Megan Russell). It does make you very wary (which could be a good thing).

Sounds like you need another brandy and coke!! :lol: :lol: :cheers:

 

[Janimal]

No I can see your point Scott too.... but if hes got nothing to hide then he wont mind being questioned by police or anyone else about it then in that case.

Much better to be safe than sorry. :unsure:

 

[Cleopatra]

Thank goodness you are safe!

Always be vigilant, never go to the same place same time, be aware what is around you. No you were not over-reacting, so what if he was innocent, what if he wasnt? You just cant be too careful these days.

 

[andrea31]

Scott, I'm just back from having a cupa with my friend, and we discussed the same thing, what if he was totally innocent, and was just nipping in the bushes for a pee??? Well, his body language didn't suggest that, I've seen many a man (or lad). And as for coughing, who can supress a cough when they need too? I know for sure I can't.

There is probably some totally innocent reason for him being there, but I can't for the life of me think of any. He's not the first lone male I've come across walking the dogs, but he is the only one who's given me the willies, and made me worried enough to phone home. Body language has a lot to answer for, and his signals were alll wrong.

Hope I'm wrong though!!!

 

[Scott Frodsham]

Scott, I'm just back from having a cupa with my friend, and we discussed the same thing, what if he was totally innocent, and was just nipping in the bushes for a pee???  Well, his body language didn't suggest that, I've seen many a man (or lad).  And as for coughing, who can supress a cough when they need too?  I know for sure I can't.There is probably some totally innocent reason for him being there, but I can't for the life of me think of any.  He's not the first lone male I've come across walking the dogs, but he is the only one who's given me the willies, and made me worried enough to phone home.  Body language has a lot to answer for, and his signals were alll wrong.

Hope I'm wrong though!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I was just trying to look at it from the other side of the coin! :b

End of the day if informing the police has reassured you in any way then that's good.

These days people seem too quick to look for the bad in others. IMHO

 

[Zephyr]

Hi Andrea - what a scary thing to happen. I know just how you feel as there was a strange guy who appeared for a few weeks a while back, walking on his own between 6 and 7 am, and while I kept being rational and thinking of all the reasons why he could have been there, there was something about the aimless way he walked, and his body language, that made me very wary. :angry:

I started walking at different times and different directions, and spoke about him to the very few people who are around at that time in the morning (and interestingly every one else had had the same feelings) and if I saw him I stored as much info as possible about his clothing, height weight etc in case I ever needed it.

Then one day he wasn't there any more and we all breathed a sigh of relief. :sweating:

Unfortunately we all need to be on our guard, and I have to say, as a guard dog, Zephyr is bloody useless, so it's me who has to look after both of us! :lol:

 

[Zoe G]

I was walking Ollie about 2 weeks ago in the large forest pretty close to my house. Had my walkman on aswell. Was just taking a nifty shortcut to the main road, not a lot of people use it, looked up and saw a bloke crouching behind a tree. Unfortunately quite a thin tree, like a silver birch! This meant I got full view of his outfit - black leotard, sheer black tights, and makeup though it was definitely a bloke.

I was like "ooops" and immediately u-turned back the way I came. Ollie did too! I presume he had a friend somewhere close by but didn't stop to find out. I just walked very quickly...

To be honest it was quite scary. But I don't think he was any threat, and I think he was pretty embarrassed that i saw him by the way he was crouching.

It certainly reminds you to be aware! If I hadn't had my walkman on I might have heard something beforehand and not walked directly into him. Haven't been using it since.

 

[BevPh]

Hi Andrea. I think you did the right thing and you have to trust your instincts. You just have this feeling when something isn't quite right.

About a month ago I was driving to this one spot I walk the dogs and passed this bloke walking past the car park. Didnt think no more of him got out of the car crossed the road and started our walk and I don't know what made me turn around but I did and jumped cos he was right behind me!! He had to have doubled back. I looked at him he smiled and I called the dogs, he turned around and walked a different way.

It really panicked me and I was going to go back to the car but thought no he's not going to scare me - stupid I know. I did not do the full walk cos I could'nt relax. He may have been totally innocent but it just did not feel right. Now I will not do this walk on my own and make someone come with me.

I'm glad your feeling better.

 

[Tesa]

What if.....
It's just some bloke who lives near you takin an early morning stroll, gets caught short so nips for a pee in the bushes. You turn up with your dogs, he's embaressed so heads off home keeping his distance from you to hide his blushes?  :b

Just a thought.

OK here's another..... if you were gonna leap out and attack somebody would you cough and alert them that you were there? (will retreat to my flame proof bunker!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Sorry Scott, it would be nice if you were right, very bloody nice indeed. There are all sorts of lunatics out there.

I have seen over the years five men mastubating in public. One even got on the train in a capital city at 3.00pm had a quick tug and then got off before the train departed. Have been so frightened by someone harrasing me to get into his car, instead of catching the bus, that I went into the house of people I hardly knew. But the worst incident was being grabbed in broad daylight as I walked through a railway underpass. Stupidly I saw him, but as he looked normal I didn't think anything of it. He followed me in a grabbed me. I was so bloody angry at him when he told me what he was going to do to me... I lost the plot and said " and how would you like me to black both your eye's you little f@#king barstard. He didn't expect temper. He got the fright of his life and ran off. Most of these things happened years ago before I started driving, I would hate to think what it was like now (w00t)

Be careful about walking there alone Andrea.

 

[Tesa]

Log onto the Suzy Lamplugh Trust website and order some of their screech/spray alarms. I carry one on every walk, and my daughters have them too (even though they roll their eyes when I ask them to make sure they have them in their pockets and not at the bottom of a rucksack).
Good idea Helen

I don't want to go against what Mark says (he is LORD Roberts. after all :lol: ) but be careful using stuff that's legal in the US but illegal over here. If you use it, the law will work to protect the criminal and not you. Ridiculous, but it makes you the aggressor to have that in your possession :wacko:

Nothing illegal about carrying a perfume spray though (w00t)   :- " 

Sounds like you need another brandy and coke!! :lol:   :lol:   :cheers:

Another good idea Helen :cheers:

 

[Janimal]

Or Hairspray either :- " :- " Deodorant too - I think they would all serve there purpose. (w00t)