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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Unlucky towel drop or something more sinister?

104 replies

BringBiscuits · 05/04/2018 23:36

My dd and her friend went swimming today (10 and 11). They came home laughing about the ‘poor old man’ who was in the changing rooms and ‘accidentally’ dropped his towel. They were in the showers and the changing cubicles are accessed from the shower area. (Male and female mixed). According to them he didn’t rush to pick up the towel and they saw ‘everything’. Most worrying is that he had winked at my daughter before this happened.
Thankfully they think the whole incident is hilarious and are completely believe it was put bad luck for the poor old man to drop his towel. AIBU to think this guy is a dirty old pervert who has deliberately flashed at two pre teen girls?

OP posts:
RunMummyRun68 · 05/04/2018 23:37

Sounds like a seasoned flasher!

I'd report it in case there's been other reports as well

moaningminnie123 · 05/04/2018 23:39

I'd be a bit concerned and contact the swimming pool so they can keep an eye out in future. Its difficult as you weren't there to know exactly what happened but better to be safe than sorry.

Original poster
BringBiscuits · 05/04/2018 23:44

I contacted the pool and The staff asked me to get the girls to give me a description of what he looked like which I did. I was in the foyer at the time waiting for them. The whole thing has just been on my mind ever since. The more I think about it the less I think it was an accident and I worry about the safety now of this style of changing area.

OP posts:
Jonsey79 · 05/04/2018 23:45

I'd also contact the pool and agree that it sounds deliberate (the winking, the delay in picking it up etc).

Do they regularly go swimming at the same time? Could you go with them next time to observe?

RunMummyRun68 · 05/04/2018 23:45

It's the school holidays. Pool will be full of kids, as this man knows

He winked first.... got their attention.... no accident in my opinion

KC225 · 05/04/2018 23:47

Sounds like a dirty old man. Report.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 05/04/2018 23:51

That’s awful. Did you report while you were there so the girls could try and identify the man? I think I’d call the police in the morning too.

Original poster
BringBiscuits · 05/04/2018 23:54

They only told me on the way home but I have reported it now. Was bothered I had jumped the gun but your responses have confirmed that I’m probably right to have thought it wasn’t innocent. Thanks. What a sad world we live in.

OP posts:
RochelleGoyle · 05/04/2018 23:56

I think it's almost impossible to tell. It sounds dodgy because he winked but then where's the evidence that the towel drop wasn't an accident or that his delay in picking it up wasn't down to, for example, back pain? It's very easy to put two and two together and come up with six.

Viviennemary · 05/04/2018 23:58

You need to report this. From what you've said it doesn't sound at all like an accident.

whywhywhywhywhyyy · 06/04/2018 00:04

Not innocent at all. Winking, not holding a towel around your bits secure in a public area... deffo a flasher

NoKnownFather · 06/04/2018 00:04

From what you've said, I think it was deliberate on his part too. He sounds really creepy and makes me wonder how much time he spends in the change rooms? maybe searching for 'victims'? ....oh no, that sounds creepy as hell. Sorry OP, look after those girls...or any children.

UpOver · 06/04/2018 00:17

I don’t think you can know for sure if it was a perve or not but it’s really important that you have reported. I’m glad the girls are ok about it.

UnimaginativeUsername · 06/04/2018 00:21

Generally non-pervy people would still have their trunks on under the towel in a mixed sex changing room arrangement. Wouldn’t they?

chickywoo · 06/04/2018 00:26

Urrrgggh sounds like a dirty old man to me.
At our local pools although they have a family mixed changing area they also have separate female and male changing rooms in addition, don’t know is this is standard or not but if possible tell the girls to go in the women only bit.

chickywoo · 06/04/2018 00:28

At least they laughed at him though - rather than being shocked/scared - I bet that pissed on his bonfire

YetAnotherSpartacus · 06/04/2018 00:37

This is just one reason why I prefer changing rooms that are segregated by sex (ie a separate ladies with showers). Definitely pervy. I hope that the pool takes your complaint seriously.

BlackeyedSusan · 06/04/2018 00:50

womens only bit. depends what you class as a women.

ohfortuna · 06/04/2018 01:09

flasher

123MothergotafleA · 06/04/2018 01:35

Reminds me of an incident I witnessed when my friend took her child swimming in a London pool. I sat in the viewing area and noticed a man just standing in the pool paying attention to the children. It was half term and it was packed. I informed the pool staff of my concerns and their response was " oh, that's just dear old Jonny, he's here all the time" and were dismissive. I emphasised that there might be something amiss but had to hope they would be vigilant.

halfwitpicker · 06/04/2018 01:38

Yuck.

Definitely a flasher the dirty old beggar.

ohfortuna · 06/04/2018 01:42

pools are full of perverts, lurking about under the water wearing goggles to get a better view
yuk

RainbowGlitterFairy · 06/04/2018 01:51

the winking would make me think it's pervy. Towel drop and being slow could just be old age, joints not working all that well etc, but winking at young girls in their swimming costumes just seems a bit dodgy even on its own.

quizqueen · 06/04/2018 02:05

This reply has been deleted

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Mxyzptlk · 06/04/2018 02:14

Generally non-pervy people would still have their trunks on under the towel in a mixed sex changing room arrangement. Wouldn’t they?

Until they get into the cubicle, you'd think so.