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Horrible experience feeling really shaken

136 replies

insidecardboardboxes · 10/01/2019 16:24

Was just walking down the road (a residential street) with my one year old in his buggy and was about to cross the road when this complete lunatic comes haring down the road, easily doing 60 miles an hour. If I had stepped off the kerb about 10 seconds later he would have hit us both. I shouted at him, more out of shock than anything else and then I see he's stopped his car up ahead. Feeling quite scared so I turned and walked the other way, then he starts following me in his car down the street so I go into a shop and say to the woman I've just come in for a minute because there's a man outside I'm scared of. A minute later he follows me into the shop, gets right up in my face, screaming at me, saying I'm a cunt and a bitch, don't fuck with him, who do I think I am. All while my little boy is crying in his buggy. I really thought he might hurt me. Just stood there blabbering "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry". Eventually he went. Was too frightened he might still be outside so stood in the shop for ages then walked another way home.

Feel pathetic and awful but I'm really shaken up. My stepdad was violent and used to hurt my mother and all I could think of was that this man was going to hurt me and my son.

I'm so scared to go back out now in case I see him again. I walk down that road every day.

OP posts:
insidecardboardboxes · 10/01/2019 16:53

No I don't know him but I think it was pretty obvious I must have lived round there - just walking round pushing a baby in a buggy with a shopping bag, down a residential street not towards a station or anything

jaxhog that incident was on my mind at the time. TBH I was terrified he had a knife.

OP posts:
insidecardboardboxes · 10/01/2019 16:53

sorry, yes 101

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DarlingNikita · 10/01/2019 16:56

Oops, I meant 101 too obviously!

FrancisCrawford · 10/01/2019 16:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BertieBotts · 10/01/2019 16:58

He won't come looking for you - men like this are twats who act in the heat of the moment and get off on the intimidation in the moment. He probably will have forgotten all about it by now. Defo report especially if the shop or any others on the road might have CCTV, and if you're still feeling shaky about it in a few days it wouldn't be out of order to mention the nasty experience to your GP who might be able to offer support. Or ask your health visitor if you don't want to speak to your GP.

It sounds horrible and scary Flowers

Fairylightfurore · 10/01/2019 17:00

Absolutely report it. Unacceptable, especially in Front of a kid.

insidecardboardboxes · 10/01/2019 17:01

Do you know now I feel terrible I didn't stand up for myself and apologised repeatedly but I was so scared he was going to do something to me and my boy

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insidecardboardboxes · 10/01/2019 17:02

I've reported online which is what their automated phone message told me to do

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MarshaBradyo · 10/01/2019 17:06

You did the right thing
He wasn’t worth your energy

MarshaBradyo · 10/01/2019 17:06

Plus you never know what someone like that would do

VforVienetta · 10/01/2019 17:06

Don't feel bad about how you reacted - you did what felt right at the time to calm the situation down. I'd probably do the same, in the hopes that he'd go away quicker.
It's unacceptable, I hope the police are helpful.

TrackerBar · 10/01/2019 17:07

@insidecardboardboxes

You did the right thing - going into the shop, apologising etc. Your survival instinct kicked in. It's totally normal to be in shock and think of things you should have done.

Please don't feel bad, you didn't do anything wrong. Flowers

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 10/01/2019 17:10

@insidecardboardboxes

So sorry this happened to you, must have been terrifying. But as others have said, your instinct to protect yourself and your son kicked in.

You did absolutely the right thing by going into the shop. The absolute right thing by not provoking him while he was shouting in your face. And the absolute right thing by reporting it to the police.

Hopefully the shop has CCTV.

Now be kind to yourself. You've have one hell of a shock!

TheSilveryPussycat · 10/01/2019 17:11

"Standing up for yourself" would likely have made him worse. You did the right thing in the shop IMHO

sakura06 · 10/01/2019 17:16

That sounds absolutely terrifying. You poor thing. I'm glad you've reported this. He sounds vile. Thanks for you.

insidecardboardboxes · 10/01/2019 17:17

Only went out to buy milk and bread. Wish I hadn't now.

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Thesearmsofmine · 10/01/2019 17:19

I’m so sorry that happened. What an absolute dick he is. I am glad you are reporting him. Don’t feel bad about how you reacted either, nobody knows what they would do in that situation and you did what felt right at that moment.

insidecardboardboxes · 10/01/2019 17:20

Thank you everyone. Feeling slightly calmer now. Just keep going cold when I think of what he could have done.

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itwaseverthus · 10/01/2019 17:23

Just awful! No wonder you were so scared. Did the woman in the shop maybe get a good look at him to give a description? Can you recall his clothes or height or anything?

Babyroobs · 10/01/2019 17:24

Some people are just horrible. I find there just seems to be more and more horrible aggressive people around than ever before, it's scary. There's also more idiots speeding around/ racing etc, my son's friend was killed in front f him last year by someone speeding excessively. If you have a description of the man or car then maybe call the police but then again you may be worried about repurcussions. I had a horrible incident a few weeks ago where couple were verbally horrible to me and it really shook me up. I have no idea why people are so nasty but it seems to be endemic.

insidecardboardboxes · 10/01/2019 17:24

I know what he looks like, I can see him in my mind's eye exactly

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itwaseverthus · 10/01/2019 17:25

I would have done exactly the same thing op. I'd have shouted out of total fear and shock and I would also have gone into the nearest shop for shelter and support. No way should a car race at that speed in what is likely a 30 or even 20 zone.

itwaseverthus · 10/01/2019 17:27

I don't think I'd be able to let it go to be honest. He utterly intimidated and verbally attacked you whilst looking after a young child. Not acceptable on any level and the fact he didn't care there were witnesses makes it even worse in my mind.

itbemay · 10/01/2019 17:28

Was there CCTV in the shop? Long shot but he may be known to police with that sort of temper. try not to give him too much head space OP

HumpHumpWhale · 10/01/2019 17:29

You've done the right thing reporting him. That won't be an isolated incident, there's no way a man like that is living an otherwise blameless existence.
Also, don't feel bad for not standing up for yourself - your instinct in the situation you were in was that that might make it worse. Don't second-guess yourself now, ultimately you kept yourself and your kid safe, and you're doing your bit to keep other people safe by reporting it. Well done.