I was walking home late at night. Secluded road, usually hardly anyone around. A dam at one side, lined with trees..houses the other (I walk on this side as the opposite is very dark).
About half a mile or so from my house. Dog alerted, had heard something. I turned around and there was a man lurking around in the trees across the road , just standing there, wearing all dark clothes, could just about see him. I couldn't tell in the dark whether he was looking toward us or not. I picked up pace, glanced behind me and saw him walking, still opposite side of road but in the same direction. I was unnerved (I've been followed before, robbed before) and started walking much faster. Dog stopped to ppoo. I didn't pick it up. I was panicked, he was about 150-200 yards from me by the time she'd finished pooing and I just scarpered off.
I know I was being unreasonable but next time I looked the man had totally disappeared, assuming hiding in the trees again, he was not there for any good reason in the middle of the night? Doesn't mean he's the next Levi Bellfield of course.
I felt guilty the next day and picked 2 piles up on my dog walk to 'make up' for it!
Where dog had 'gone', it wasn't somewhere people were likely to step. It isn't a rural road but It has a wide path on that side and some bushes, and she'd done it more or less under a bush but if I am honest, I think I'd have still scarpered even if it was on the pavement as I was scared.