Attempted upskirting by delivery man

[upskirting]

Bizarre and shocking experience today, thanks to a delivery man working for a large well known delivery firm acting on behalf of a major U.K. retailer.

He "had to tie his shoelaces" three times in the 5ish mins he and his male colleague were here. I was home alone. Each time he moved uncomfortably close to me and then knelt on the floor and put his phone camera-up on the floor next to him. I felt uncomfortable but couldn’t believe that he was trying anything.

The third time I was in an area like a utility room, and he'd knelt in front of the doorway, essentially blocking me in... and then said, oh sorry, i'm blocking you! He moved himself but not the phone, which I would have had to step over or close to over, to get past into the main room. Fortunately I had the good sense to stay where I was.

AIBU that this man should lose his job? As should his colleague, who clearly knew what was going on? And also, WWYD now, if you were me?

Nice victim-blaming there.
Or maybe you're a man.
You sure sound like one.

Absolutely disgusting. I'm glad you've reported it to the police. Definitely go public on social media too.

It absolutely repulses me that he did this to you in your home.

Have not read the whole thread, OP, but definitely report to the police. They may or may not bother with it, but this needs to be logged. These "lesser" crimes or attempts lead on to worse, so you will have done your bit to possibly protect other women in future. Also report to the retailer you bought from, rather than the delivery company. Hope you are OK.

Disgusting perve. No doubt he has tried this trick before and like you say has his lines aka excuses rehearsed. Its not something you would realise was happening straight away nor expect in your own home but it’s good your instincts twigged what was going on. Glad you’ve reported it as he probably has been taking advantage of unsuspecting women for a while.

He kept pretending to tie his shoelaces and made the excuse to put his phone on the floor next to him as his last one’s screen smashed.
After doing this a couple of times the OP sensed something odd was going on.

Except if other people have reported him to the company and police then there's a trail. Or you start the trail. Or it's actually investigated. It doesn't have to be proved, but it does need to be reported.

@upskirting

Just to reiterate, you did absolutely nothing wrong - their behaviour was bang out of line and horrifying well practised.

In a more general way my position is that if a guy is attempting to upskirt you, kicking his phone would be well within the range of reasonable responses. Not at all that any young woman should do that / should have done that or that that would have been better if you had done that in this situation. I am sorry if I expressed in a way that came off victim blamey at all as that was not at all my intention.

People are mean!
of course you think of something to do or say after the event when it’s over and you’re safe. OP you did everything right.
it is 100% a crime and you were right to contact the police.

I have the greatest admiration for the OP and her presence of mind and trusting her gut feeling.

Anyone delivering furniture and concentrating on doing the job properly won't be faffing around with their phone. There's no reason for a phone to be seen unless perhaps an e-signature is required.

As for the victim blaming... regrettably, that thought process is going to be inevitable in some women. Mark Twain's thought seems appropriate:

It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt.

@upskirting

Unless you live with the Borrowers please don’t stop wearing dresses at home otherwise the pervert you had in your home yesterday will have won.

💐

Definitely complain in writing to the company involved - and demand a response

I had an uncomfortable experience with an Ocado Zoom driver recently. He kindly bought the shopping into the kitchen for me and then asked if I wanted a neck massage and said a lot of the clients liked them!

Defiinitely report to the police, OP, and to the retailer. Also let them know that you weren't impressed by the delivery firm's response. This is worth pursuing.

Since we all now now Sarah Everard's killer started out committing 'minor' sexual offences, no one has an excuse to pretend these do not matter.

Sorry this happened to you, and in your own home. It's all part of pushing women's boundaries and eroding our right to privacy.

we all now know Sarah Everard's killer started out committing 'minor' sexual offences

God, aren't we safe anywhere? I'd report that to Ocado. Sounds as if he thinks he's in a porn movie.

Even ignoring the attempted phone placement, cornering of a woman in her own home, is un nerving and dangerous behaviour.

I would report it 100%

By the way, I rarely call for people to lose their jobs. That's unfair in most cases I've heard of.

But sexual predators can get employment as delivery drivers in order to have access to women's homes. And that should be stopped immediately in every case.

Reporting these men could save another woman from being asaulted.

Please! Report this to the police. I know they're useless, especially when it involves crimes against women, but at least it will be recorded. Also, please report it to Women's Aid. Another record I had a moment with Green Flag, their recovery driver sent me his private number, telling me I could call him at any time, if I needed servicing. Yuk. Grubby little oik, who then sat in his recovery vehicle outside my house, for another 15 minutes, sending me text messages.

Nasty bloody sex pest. Jeez you should be safe in your own home.
Report him to head office.
Nobody should be made to feel insecure in their own home.
Hope you are ok op

I complained, to both my car insurer, (Hastings) and to Green Flag. I have been assured that he was "dealt with in the strongest possible terms". Gross misconduct I think. Hilarious! I reported it to the police, but apparently, no crime was committed. Sadly, this man still has all of my personal information. It's required, for insurance purposes and he STILL has it, and I can't do anything about it. No crime was committed. Do not use Edan Recovery, or Dave Eyles. His information is out there now, as well.

Report.

He’s a danger to women and this is how it starts.

And upskirting is a specific criminal offence now.

Yeah OP, why did you “let” him bend down? Why did you wear a dress? Why didn’t you tell him to stop? Why weren’t you perfect?

FFS 🙄

OH! And don't use Click Mechanic either. The sexual innuendoes from the guy appointed to me was appalling. When I complained, Click Mechanic decided NOT to charge me £67 for a cancelled call out. They also still have all of my personal details (needed to register) Something needs to change.
Not all men are bad. Some are Morris Dancers.

Definitely worth pursuing. If he’s done this you, he’s done it before, and will do again.