At some point, most women have been scared while walking home alone in the dark. There is a whole industry dedicated to creating pink pepper spray and lipstick that doubles as a flashlight just for them. But while most keep their guard up when they're solo, no one expects to be attacked by a gimp.
After one anonymous woman came forward to describe her terrifying experience with a man in a rubber gimp suit, Claverham police reveal they have received calls from several other area residents who have been bothered by the man jumping out at them.
Police responded to a call from Somerset Village at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday from a woman in her twenties. She told them the gimp charged at her as she walked through the street. He left her alone after she repeatedly screamed and pushed him.
Though authorities showed up at the scene with dogs and a helicopter, they couldn't find the perpetrator. The woman told the BBC about her terrifying experience:
"I was walking along with my torch and looked up to see someone charging at me in a full black rubbery suit and managed to take a picture. He kept coming towards me and was touching his groin, grunting and breathing heavy."
"As I tried to take a step back, he was right in front of my face, and he put his leg forward. I was just trying to assess the situation in my head quickly. Everything was running through my head. I thought: 'This is it, I’m going to get attacked.'"
The woman reported the incident so that no one else would be terrorised in the way that she was, especially since she is now afraid to leave her house: "It's not just a man jumping out at me going 'boo.' Every time I close my eyes, I just see that face."
Avon and Somerset Police are trying everything they can to prevent the situation from occurring again, with increased patrolling in the area. They told the BBC in a statement:
"We’re aware of concerns relating to a man acting suspiciously in the Claverham/Yatton area. While we’re keeping an open mind about the motive for these incidents, it’s clear the individual responsible is deliberately attempting to cause alarm to the men and women he’s approaching. While no-one has been hurt during the incidents, we fully appreciate the distress these actions have caused victims."
Next time you're out and about, expect the unexpected. You never know what might happen, so keep your eye out for anything and everything... including gimps.
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