Horrible experience feeling really shaken

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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.

That's awful, poor you. He behaved like an outright bully, in front of a little child too.

I hope you're OK now. There are some horrible people about but, thankfully, we don't meet them every day, and there are plenty of nice ones.

OP, your neighbourhood may have a local group on facebook for local discussions or neighbourhood watch. I would consider posting about it on there in case the guy poses a risk to other people.

I don't know if my local area is anything to go by, but in a situation like this it wouldn't necessarily be the police who are most likely to intervene. As a community, people who behave badly tend to be publicly vilified and there are some who would tend to take matters into their own hands if they know someone is "disturbing the peace".

Yes definitely call police

They can re-open it if new evidence surfaces. Can you get someone to check if there’s CCTV in / near the shop? Some houses have CCTV as well. It’s appalling the police haven’t done this themselves.

Self defence tip - a small travel sized hairspray fits in a coat pocket, is legal to carry and stings if accidentally sprayed in eyes.

Can't sleep, keep thinking about it and crying. Why has this affected me so badly.

I'm so sorry you have experienced this OP, but please don't let it stop you living the rest of your life.

The chances are the idiot driver can't remember what you look like to repeat doing this.

Maybe consider having a small can of hair spray as previously suggested.

Do you have a mobile that can record? If so, while you are getting over this incident, you could have it ready to record while you are out, so if something does happen again you know you can record it to give to the police. This would be best done without the other person knowing, so on the top of the pushchair/in a pocket. You won't get video but should get sound.

This might give you some peace of mind while you recover.

If something like this happens to anyone and you feel you are in danger you can ring 999 as it is happening. If you can't speak then press 55. This means the police can come out and, if there is someone in the vicinity, might even be able to catch them. A long shot, but it is always better to report these things as they are happening if at all possible, it gives the police the best chance of catching them.

I would have called police at the time but I was scared if he saw me using my phone it would escalate his behaviour

Love it's normal to be really shook up by this. You are normal. Please be kind to yourself

It's probably triggered traumatic memories from your past, might be worth talking it over with someone but I'd say it's pretty normal for anyone to feel this way after a horrible experience, you should start to feel better as the days go on. Don't start avoiding going out though, that could easily be a slippery slope

Was he white or black? Tall or short? Well spoken or local dialict? Would you recognise him again?

Its affected you so badly because you were doing the most mundane thing in the world, walking your child in the pram and death seemed so close; I speak as someone who was in a similar position. Don't let it freak you out by not confronting how severe it was. Call this bastard out if you can

Victim Support are lovely people and would be happy to talk it all through with you over the phone. What happened to you is a crime, despite the police not following it up properly .

Poor you. That is terrifying. I’m not at all surprised it has shaken you badly.
I do believe that becoming a recent mum would make its’ impact even deeper. We become so sensitive to what the world is like As our children now have to live in it.
If you can get out tomorrow, with your DP perhaps, then do. It will help build back your confidence.

Tall black guy, SE London accent, in his forties I reckon, facial hair, skinny. I'd know him if I saw him again.

I will try victim support. Barely slept last night and have to take ds to nursery shortly.

I'm sorry you experienced this.

You will not be his only victim. By reporting him you may be saving his wife/girlfriend/dog/kid from a beating tonight.

You never know, he could be on bail and will go straight into custody.

You have a witness and potentially cctv. The police can put you down as c/o police for witness address if that's what you're worried about.

Exactly! Damn the police! They could at least look at any CCTV! If he was on bail or known to them it would surely help their case.

I despair, I really do. Women have to die before anything is done!

Have you got something planned for today?

I'm working. But I work from home so can take it a bit easy.

Me kind to your self. Can you meet a friend for lunch, or have them over?

Horrible thing to have happened. Maybe already been mentioned but get a personal alarm, will make you feel a bit more secure.

First of all thank you for reporting! You are a lion, many others wouldn't and you did. I am majorly disappointed in the police, and only if you are up to it maybe check out IPCC:

www.policeconduct.gov.uk

If there is one thing I would want the police to be doing it would be protecting mothers and babies! I appreciate that they are up against it with time/resources, but what you experienced wasn't trivial.

I admire you for your strength and I really wish this had not happened to you.

What a bully 😡 horrible little man.

Experiences like that are horrible - especially with your baby with you. Take care and don’t berate yourself x

Just took DS to nursery down that same road. Went as fast as I could and back again and now shaking. Feeling just pathetic.

This is the response the police sent me:

^We are sorry to hear that you have been the victim of crime. An investigator from the Metropolitan Police has looked carefully at your case and we are sorry to say that, with the evidence and leads available, it is unlikely that it will be possible to identify those responsible. We have therefore closed this case.

We know how disappointing this news will be for you. It is disappointing for us too – our officers and staff joined the police to catch criminals and bring them to justice, and it is frustrating to all of us when the circumstances mean we can’t do that. Although the case is closed, every bit of information we get from the public helps us to do our jobs, and your report may yet assist us in tackling crime. For example, the information may help us improve our intelligence on known offenders; spot links between crimes; or identify places and times of day where crimes are more likely to occur so we can do something about it.

If we receive any new information regarding your case, we will of course review it. We will contact you should we re-open our investigation.

If you need support or advice on coming to terms with your experience, the independent charity Victim Support is here to help. You can call the national Victim Supportline on 0808 168 9111 at any time of day or night. Alternatively, you can contact London Victim Support on 0808 168 9291 (8am-8pm Mon to Fri, 9am-5pm Sat). You can also visit their website www.victimsupport.org.uk

As ever, if you need our help, you can reach us on 999 in an emergency, via 101 for non-emergencies or via our website www.met.police.uk

We follow the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, a set of guidelines which is designed to make sure victims of crime are given the best advice and support from the moment they report a crime to the sentencing of an offender. You can find out more about this at www.met.police.uk/victimsupport

To help us improve, you may be contacted by us, the Mayor's Office for Policing & Crime (MOPAC) or a company they appoint to ask questions about the service you received. The MPS/MOPAC are sharing your information with this research company in its role as a public authority to improve the experiences of victims. You will be asked for your consent to give feedback. What we learn helps us ensure we are providing the best service. Your identifiable information will only be stored for a maximum of three years.

Thank you for contacting the Metropolitan Police Service and apologies once again that the outcome in this case could not be more positive.^

ugh meant to make that italic