I want to use Sarah's Law on my neighbour, despite never having spoken to him... AIBU?

[Throwaway1980]

Hi there,

Throwaway account.

I was sexually assaulted as a child (I use 'assault' rather than 'abuse' as it happened once). I've sought appropriate therapy, and live my life quite 'normally'.

I do, however, have really good instincts for when I meet a potential child abuser. There have been a couple of times I've got a bad feeling about someone, for it to be proved right at a later stage.

I get this feeling VERY infrequently, probably six times in total over the course of 35 years (three times the person was later shown to be a sexual predator, the other three were people I only met in passing).

I'm not saying I'm some kind of psychic, or have any special skills, just that I have a heightened awareness of the way some adults look at children.

We got new neighbours last week, and I got that feeling about the guy moving-in.

I have two DDs (5 years and 2.5 years) and live with them and my husband.

The new neighbours are at the front of the house, so do not overlook our garden, they are directly opposite so have full view into our living room.

This guy has done literally nothing to make me suspect him, other than the way he inspected my children on our way into the house.

I don't know the logistics of invoking Sarah's Law, whether as a near-neighbour my request would be considered valid. And I don't know if I'm being unduly harsh.

AIBU? Maybe. I really don't know.

This thread is from early June

Re windown nets.
I've never used them.
I use sheer voiles so the light still comes through whilst nobody from outside can see in - and they look so much better.
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They are net curtains thought

@Throwaway1980 @rubyroot

This is so true about the past. The sad thing is that "most" abuse [of whatever kind] happens in families and between people who have contact with each other for good reason. I suspect it has always been so. Yes of course there is "stranger danger" but by concentrating on that we may miss grooming and family problems

This man has done nothing but look at your kids, he hasn't spoken to them tried to start a conversation with you or them and you think he is a paedophile. Yes he licked his lips but medications in older people cause dry mouth lips it could've been that.
But as you said there's been zero interaction.
Now as a parent myself if a man that I don't know came up to my kids in a supermarket didnt even say hi how are you to me but goes straight to the kids, wow I love your shirt , trainers they are so cool, how old are you and Carrie's on, that's the person I'm worried about so I'd feel about your dad the way you feel about your neighbour. I've had someone like your dad in a shop start saying things like that in a queue to my boys and even asked which school they went to. But I've taught them not to say which school so they said we dont tell strangers. He had the cheek to say your mum wont know. I stopped in the middle of paying and said to leave them alone and told he I was informing the shop of his behaviour and he turned and left.
So due to this I'm more wary of men like your dad as paedophiles charm kids chat normally that's how they get away with it.
Your neighbour is just out in the street.
It's awful what you've been through but you cant judge on one look.
And I agree with your mum tell your dad to leave kids alone, I wouldnt be happy him randomly talking trying to be cool with mine.
As for the local school zero schools in the uk allow a stranger to pick kids up if it not going to be mum or dad you have to let them know who their name etc so dont go there demanding they check their system.
I think counselling may help you as its helped a friend of mine.