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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Chased by a tractor

83 replies

Charmtaste · 09/06/2021 01:00

Today I took my kids out for a walk. We went to a local park that is massive but deserted during the day. A tractor with a lawn cutter on the back was mowing the main field so we stuck to the playground. The tractor came right up to the playground and made my kids scream it was so close. I took them to adjacent fields to get away. The tractor followed. We were walking around the edge of a football pitch and the tractor kept coming straight for us to the point that I had to push the pram behind a tree. He was not mowing in straight lines and wherever we went on the footpath he came straight at us. I left the path and went to an adjoining basketball court and he came straight at us there even though the football pitch wasn’t fully mowed. It was such an odd and frightening experience. No matter where I walked he aimed at us. Eventually I parked my kids behind a tree and started filming him. At that point he stopped.
Aibu to report this to the council? Even typing it makes me sound paranoid but it was terrifying.

OP posts:
musthavebeenlove · 09/06/2021 10:33

[quote Charmtaste]@musthavebeenlove I am fine now but a bit wary of going to the park without another adult with me. Such a strange and unnerving experience.[/quote]
That’s absolutely understandable and normal after what has happened. I’m furious for you that this wanker has destroyed the feeling of safety of what was before a fun place for you and your DC. Have you reported it yet?

gamerchick · 09/06/2021 10:43

Personally I'd report to the police. He could have been just a dick or he could be someone who shouldn't be allowed to operate that kind of machine. The next person he does it to might make you wish you had. Some people just snap.

Either way he needs pulling up on his behaviour.

FrenchieFromGrease · 09/06/2021 11:03

What a weird man. Who would want to scare a toddler?!

Please let us know what 101 / the council say when you report him. The patterns in the grass will clearly show that he was following you rather than cutting the grass properly.

BIWI · 09/06/2021 11:18

Can you post the video?

Daphnise · 09/06/2021 11:31

I often encounter these mowing devices, and they seem to follow a route, so once you move away they don't come near you unless you go back into their route.

This is a dreadful experience. So do make a report to the Council and Police- or your local ward Councillor; be very precise- time, date, place, and I think you have film. State the effect on you and the children.

Be prepared for the driver to totally deny it.

You may need to be persistent; most places these days just try several tactics to fob you off- even the police do this.

Good luck.

Ostara212 · 09/06/2021 11:32

@BIWI

Can you post the video?
Don't do that. Just give it to the police.
Whythesadface · 09/06/2021 11:33

I'd tell the police.
But also report it to whom ever owns the field.
The mower is a bully and could hurt someone or a pet.

Cadent · 09/06/2021 11:34

Nothing wrong with posting the video here is OP wants to. The man isn't owed anonymity.

Yaya26 · 09/06/2021 12:02

Sounds incredibly scary for you and your poor kids. Some nut job w**ker. I'd report fully to police with video and make sure they follow up on it. Xx

Bortles · 09/06/2021 12:43

I wouldn't put it on social media, purely for the fact you will give him access to your name and whatever you haven't made private if he is told about it.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 09/06/2021 14:20

This is actually really freaky.

Have you reported it OP?

otterbaby · 09/06/2021 14:24

That's awful. The people who mow the lawn and use the weed cutters at my park usually stop when I pass them with the buggy. What a scary experience.

DaveDave · 09/06/2021 14:44

That sounds terrifying. Please report it to the police.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 09/06/2021 14:50

It just sounds unhinged to me and really, really sinister.

toocold54 · 09/06/2021 14:59

YANBU can you post the video?
Something similar happened to me (no way near as extreme) as he was trying to be ‘funny’ so I pretended it didn’t bother me and stayed in the direction I was going as I knew he wasn’t actually going to kill me with the tractor so he got bored and carried on cutting the grass.

BIWI · 09/06/2021 15:31

Is there a video @Charmtaste?

Franklyfrost · 09/06/2021 15:39

If you have a Nextdoor or Facebook group you could ask there if anyone had anything similar. I’d also consider reporting to the local police as often they’ll know local ‘characters’ and might be able to have a word with him and with any official support networks he might have (like social services or a mental health team). I’d be worried it’s someone having a full on mental health crisis.

Thatsmycupoftea · 09/06/2021 15:43

This is so strange. What a bizarre man.

warmandtoasty2day · 09/06/2021 16:19

i'd be interested to hear the out come of this.

hennybeans · 09/06/2021 16:30

We all know there are some men who get a kick out of terrorising women. It's entirely believable that one of them happens to work for the council cutting grass.

Even if it's just your word against his, report it so that the next woman he does it to will be believed.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 09/06/2021 16:53

I have a friend who mows the grass in the park. This is not normal behaviour, for people who seem to think it is. Hmm

warmandtoasty2day · 09/06/2021 20:42

what did the police say op ? - assuming you've reported it

honeyrider · 10/06/2021 14:59

He's dangerous and needs reporting.

Totallyrandomname · 10/06/2021 15:02

I put YABU but only because I think you should have contacted the police. This is so dangerous and odd behaviour

WhereYouLeftIt · 10/06/2021 15:33

"Eventually I parked my kids behind a tree and started filming him. At that point he stopped."

It's very unlikely that him stopping when you started filming was a coincidence, isn't itSad? He knew what he was doing.

I'd report it to both Council and Police.