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.

Oh God, bore off. No it shouldn't, that isn't the law. You can't parrot the law in one sentence and make it up in another.

I don't know if you meant to sound callous, but you really do.

You've essentially said "to hell with you and your dog, you need to put up with being harassed and followed."

Also, it is within the law for my dog to be off lead in a public field as long as he is under my control, which he was.

and what would you say to someone who hides and then leaps out of hedges to scare a woman and her children and uses profanities in their presence? Someone who follows strangers at close range under the guise of walking wherever they want regardless of the fact they'd been travelling in the opposite direction? Someone who also photographs small children to whom they are not related, when they are merely existing and going about their own business?

I don't have the money to pay for an injunction, unfortunately. I would love to.

OP, this behaviour fits the description of stalking, which is "a pattern of fixated and obsessive behaviour which is repeated, persistent, intrusive and causes fear of violence or alarm and distress in the victim."

You may not think of it that way because this is a woman and you may not be physically fearful of her in the way you would be of a man, but I think you should describe it in those terms to the police. It is often difficult to get the police to recognise stalking so you may need to explicitly name this as that to get them to understand. Stalking is a specific offence under harassment laws.

This link will give you the number for the National Stalking Helpline which can give you free advice and help: https://www.suzylamplugh.org/stalking-help-and-advice They may be able to help out on the best way to engage with the police in your area.

There is also a charity called Paladin which provides advocacy to victims of stalking at high risk and they have a helpline.

@MooseBreath ok she is utterly terrifying, and walked out dead in front of my car last summer. How I missed her I don’t know.

For all of you having a go at OP, this woman has attacked disabled people in wheelchairs, anyone with children and dogs are a target for her. She’s is awful!

The police’s response to her scaring the city has been pathetic. They know where she is and who she is and continue to not arrest her despite video evidence and lots of people who have been harassed by her. It’s getting to the point for her own safely she should probably be arrested not everyone is as patient as OP.

Apparently OP if you use her name she scuttles away. But frankly I’d call 999 everytime she follows or videos you now, and good call with the body cam. You can try complaining to the local councillors but I’d go to the MP now it’s ridiculous.

Having your dog off the lead in a public place is not against the law, and you have no legal protection to prevent it.

HTH.

Ignore the nutters who are obsessing about the dog being on a lead and completely ignoring the fact she has done this to you even when you've not had the dog, and it's just us your kids.

This must be so upsetting for you, she obviously has mental health problems but as you so rightly say you're priorities are your kids' safety.

I'm shocked the police haven't done anything. Is it just women she harasses?

@andymary

"It doesn't matter where your dog was. If it was outside of your home and not on your own private property, then it should be on a lead, full stop.
Also, being video recorded in a public place is not against the law, and you have no legal protection to prevent it.
Be responsible and always lead your dog."

Talk about missing the bigger picture. Is your little world so buttoned up and narrow that all you can talk about is dog leads. Hey, what about the deranged and potentially dangerous stalker who is putting the fear of god into the OP and her children when she has done nothing wrong whatsoever and neither has her dog - on or off a fucking lead!

Jeez, go back to twitching your curtains.

Film her.
Post it on local social media pages relaying what you have here.
She is in a public space and has no reasonable expectation of privacy and she is harassing you.

I bet that will stop her.

A few years ago there was a woman similarly harrassing people in Newhaven. I don't think she was dog-fixated but she kept trying to run people over in her car! She eventually succeeded in breaking some poor teenage girl's ankle if I remember correctly. The police were also pretty feeble in their response.

The woman sounds like she needs to be sectioned for her own safety and that of others, but with services in their current tatters I suppose that's unlikely.

Would also recommend writing to your MP.

I had a male neighbour turn up on my doorstep and ring my bell every 4 seconds for over 35mins at 1:30am once - caught it all on ring doorbell (well Aosu) and PCO saw it, went around and explained that this was harassing behaviour. It even had me saying calmly that if he didn't stop I would have to call the police as I wasn't opening the door to him in an agitated state in the middle of the night. PCO said that the best thing to do is to fire small warning shots first so that they don't get angry (PCO went over to explain how their behaviour is threatening and how if it continues it will show a pattern for a future Court), escalate to a fine if there's a second time and then the matter can be taken to Court with the likely outcome that I'd win as they'd shown to be repeat offenders. I'd suggest you do something similar as he stopped and actually moved 6 months later (was in late 50's and don't think he realised what the doorbell camera was!).

It does irritate me when people don’t have their dogs on leads on public paths, especially when I’m going for a jog. Most of the time it’s okay, but sometimes they get in the way and the owners are oblivious. It doesn’t sound like your dog was in the way.

However, this woman seems absolutely crazy. I think if you’re going to be inconsiderate and not keep your dog on a lead then expect to get called out but you shouldn’t expect them to come to your house and take pictures of you and your kids! Make a report with the police ASAP, that’s obviously harassment.

Was your dog meant to be on a lead?

Next time it happens dial 999 and tell the police that she has been continually harassing you and you are fearful that she will harm you & / or your children . This sounds like she’s committing a criminal offence - (stalking / harassment ) Ask others to report to police too

Call 101, you have nothing to lose by reporting it. If she has tried this with others or you cross paths again, then there is a solid case. I would find this upsetting and intimidating if it happened to me- as a fellow owner of a well behaved dog and small children who goes off-lead walking and would be grateful if others had reported and I was also a victim.

You did nothing wrong, your dog was under control. Mumsnet is full of ridiculous anti-dog loons. Perhaps your harasser is one of them! Don't listen to the people telling you you should have had them on a lead.

No. He legally does not need to be, as he was under control.

Only thing worse than a jogger is a bloody cyclist. Cheeky cow.

This could fall under assault/ risk of assault. That or possibly trying to cause a breach of the peace. I think you need to kick up more of a fuss with the policing team as they are clearly not raking obviously escalatory behaviour seriously.

God, what a total psycho.

@UnfortunateTypo Thank you! I will try saying the name to make her leave. I don't want to risk my children being involved in an assault.

A man in our area took to jumping out from hedges along a popular path and shouting at women joggers cyclists and dog walkers to frighten them. He was arrested eventually, charged, broke his sentencing conditions and is now locked up. Keep pestering the police!

Do you have an actual police contact? I'd get out your phone and call him while she' harassing you. Tell her you are calling the police and then tell him what is happening. Or call 101 while you are with her.

Sounds like a nutter.