Harassed on a walk

[MooseBreath]

I just got back from a walk on a public footpath along a field with my dog and DS (13 months). This path is in a very open area and is frequently used by dog walkers, which are rarely on a lead as they tend to run about the field together. My dog, though not on a lead, was walking to heel on the grass rather than the path.

A jogger ran towards me and when she approached, she slowed down and changed directions so that she was walking alongside me (my dog was still on the grass to heel). The woman pulled out her phone and started filming me stating that if my "dog's shitty nose so much as touched her knee that she considers that harassment and she would use any means to get him away" from her.

I stopped walking and asked her to stop filming me and said that my dog has no interest in approaching her, then carried on walking a bit quicker, with my dog still by my side.

She continued to film me and walk alongside me saying she's "sick of everyone and their bloody dogs". I asked her to please stop following me, to which she said "I can walk wherever I please". I responded repeating my request to stop filming me and leave me alone. She followed me for a further few minutes, filming the entire time as my dog did nothing. Eventually the woman turned and left in a huff.

I wanted to turn and go home, but I certainly didn't want her to know where I live. AIBU to call 101 and report? It seems silly because she didn't touch me, my baby, or my dog, but she wouldn't go away, and I was worried that my dog might so much as follow a scent and set foot on the path. I don't know if she's done anything illegal, and I don't know if police could do anything, but I know how unsafe I felt.

Always other women harassing women? What a load of crap. Most harassers are men.

jesus OP how worrying! Hope this gets sorted asap.

I looked this up - not hard to find something quickly now we know the town. She seems to be a real menace and one that's been hassling walkers for years and years. Really hope that enough people continue to complain so that the police have to act, OP.

What town is it I missed that?

Is it hidden away in private Facebook groups? Nothing at all comes up when searching so I can see why someone would think it was an isolated incident or that they were being targeted.

If so, they need to be more public with their complaints and documentation so that more people are seeing it and more pressure is on police to respond.

I only got one result too when googling 'ely dog walker harassment'.

.... Unless they're not allowed to share it. In the way you're told not to share CCTV as a crime as it could mess up a police case.

You could try contacting the community safety officer at the local Council, they might help liaise with the police.

You are an entitled dog owner

Oh ffs enough now! There's a mentally unwell woman stalking people all over Ely and you're blaming someone because they own a dog?

How to tell that you haven't read the thread without saying you haven't bothered to read the thread. Unless you're the Ely Public Enemy No 1.

That wouldn't surprise me. Perhaps, if the news picked this up, she could be publically shamed and named.
How the police can let this go on when she has used her "sticks" to hit dogs and people. I thought that was "assault"? Sooner than later, and I hope much sooner, she will meet up with someone who is not in the mood for her shit and give her the just desserts she deserves.

She sounds like a danger to the public. I cannot believe she gets away with hitting dogs and people like she does. She is no different from any male abuser who takes his rage off on his family, co-workers and neighbors. Yet, she gets away with it?

Blimey, she doesn't look like what I thought at all!

The FB video has over 10,000 views!

What Facebook video?

Found her. No she doesn't look like I expected. That video was a year ago and she's still doing it.

What do you search for to get the video?

Woman harass dog walker ely

Except there's no actual evidence of harassment in the video.

Perhaps not in that one but no doubt there are others that people have over the years.

I found the video quite easily (without knowing the area you're in @MooseBreath ) by searching on "woman harassing dog walkers" and it was the first video that came up for me.

Even in that video, she is commandeering the footpath with her ski poles and determined walking style. It looked to me that the person walking the dog actually moved to the grassy area so that this walker could have the full path. She just seems to be a lot all at once and I have never met her at all and I'm getting that from what the OP has posted and that video.

@MooseBreath - I think the suggestion that someone up thread posted about getting a loud attack alarm (or even get an aerosol horn - https://www.google.com/search?q=aerosol+horn&rlz=1CAIWTJ_enIE1062&oq=aerosol+horn&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyCQgAEEUYORiABDIHCAEQABiABDIICAIQABgWGB4yCAgDEAAYFhgeMggIBBAAGBYYHjIICAUQABgWGB4yCAgGEAAYFhgeMg0IBxAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0ICBAAGIYDGIAEGIoFqAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) that you can use while out on the walk.

Poor you OP, this woman sounds bat shit crazy. We had an awful bloke with MH issues here who hated men and used to threaten to kill DP on sight, it was horrible. Police did eff all about him harassing blokes in the village until he inevitably got beaten up when he picked on the wrong one. Haven't seen him since then so he's either received help or is harassing men elsewhere.

Feel for you OP. (Unfortunately the only way to deal with persistent derailers with no comprehension skills is to scroll past their posts and not respond)

I wonder if everyone in the town is waiting for someone else to 'do' something. Can you be the pain in the arse to the MP, police etc and have a number to contact them on/visit them every time it happens?

Yes, report it right away, she's being a vinegar tits, she aggressively pursued you despite you telling her not to and if that's not harassment I don't know what is.

Police can do nothing about her filming but for her aggression towards you, she should get a warning.

You could contact your local council and make a complaint to them, they may be able to intervene.

If you pop ‘woman harassing dog walkers ely’ and then go to posts, you can see the extent of her behaviour and it’s been going on for years.

The residents that side of town have tried Facebook warnings, posters on lampposts, the police and other authorities. And the only answer anyone seems to get is the police can’t do anything. It’s like she is completely above the law.

Don't think she'd have been doing it years where I live tbh