Trigger warning - avoiding sexual attack questions - how you feel safe walking alone when you hear a local man is hiding naked in woodlands?

[IMakeDealsWithTheDevil]

I have a dog and have to go out daily. We have a situation locally where a man has been seen naked in woodlands in several local areas recently. There was another similar news item a few months back.

On Facebook a lot of men are making jokes about it but I am actually very worried. Several murders have taken place within a 40mile radius of where we live that have been female lone dog walkers, two of the murderers we know had been being sexually deviant up to the murders, showing genitalia etc.

I find the story has landed very differently with the women on the village group with many of us worried but the men thinking it's "just a nudist" or making jokes.

It's really affecting how relaxed I am on my walks and where I am walking. I've been thinking today how I would get attention if I was jumped or what I should carry with me or how I should act to put them off. Is it still the best advice to talk to them about their mum if they try to rape you? Biting? Poking eyes? What do you carry with you?

I really hope I am not coming across as crazy but I knew one of the women who was murdered personally and I am finding this very triggering. I think there should be some police led safety advice in the area.

No, complete stranger, as was the other man loitering in woods who killed the other dog walker not 25 miles away. I don't believe that any decent man in the area knowing this would think a woman or child wouldn't be afraid if they came across them naked in the woods.

@cestlavielife those are all really good suggestions. We have quite a few large all female dog walking groups springing up in the area now, presumably as a response to the two incidents above. I think a lot of women would attend those kind of meetings but I think making local men aware also would be good so they don't see it as a huge joke and help to protect their own kids (many cycle or walk home alone!).

I recommend the Hollie guard personal safety app it’s made me feel so much safer.

I walk a lot in the late evening and a few months ago a man was hiding in some bushes when I was walking to the supermarket.

I kept walking at a normal pace (some advice I’d read on here, apparently if you run a man is more likely to also run and chase you. If you walk as though you aren’t alarmed the man will wait until the best opportunity and possibly look round first to see if anyone else is nearby) till I got to a strangers drive then ran up the drive and banged on the door. A man answered the door and came to see if he could see the potential attacker.
If he had come out of the bushes to get to the main road he’d have been seen by us as you could see clearly both ways, this meant he could only have gone back into the bushes which was so scary. He was wearing all dark clothes and didn’t look friendly when he came out of the bushes, it’s a dark quiet road with just the one big house with a private drive I ran to.

The police did fuck all. They promised to put an alert out, keep me updated and contact victim support, I didn’t hear from them again. I was badly shaken and posted on here for support.

I now use the Hollie guard app that sends my chosen contacts an alert that I’m walking somewhere and has a timer that goes off if I don’t reach my destination, then an alert is raised and I get a safety call.
You can shake your phone or press a button to set off an alarm and it activates your phone camera and microphone to record your surroundings which is sent to your contacts and a police monitoring centre, you have to put a pin in to prove you are safe.

I have used the alarm once when my creepy stalker neighbour was harassing me, he backed off and I had evidence from the recordings.
I once set a timer to go swimming and forgot to end it when I got to the gym, an alarm was raised and the police monitoring centre was contacted so that was embarrassing 🙈. My DP had to call the gym and I had to get out of the pool, it was reassuring to know it works though.

That’s just awful OP. I actually can’t believe public nudity is legal either, I’m shocked. Did laugh at the genital burka tho…
All female dog walking groups sound like a good plan. It would be shit if you couldn’t enjoy your walks- why should women cower in fear??
Im always slightly disbelieving of the trope that women are usually attacked by men they know.
I mean, I know it to be statistically true, but I’ve never been attacked by a man I know, yet have been chased, grabbed, flashed at and dealt with attempted rape ( and possibly murder) all by strangers.
The worst time I fought like Hell, screamed, kicked and generally was more trouble than I was worth. Police never caught him though. I don’t think they really looked tbh.
No man who deliberately walks around naked where women and children could be startled has good intentions I don’t care what the law saws.

I would drive to a populated place to walk the dog. Even without murders round here, I don't go into isolated woodlands on my own. Ever. And I am 6ft and big built.

For all those ridiculous people saying it's fine for men to wander around naked, if it's absolutely fine under the law then why has the naked rambler been arrested so many times?

Yes, Stephen Gough, known as the "Naked Rambler," was arrested multiple times, most recently in 2013 for breaching an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) by leaving prison naked, and in 2014 for a similar offense. He was repeatedly jailed for breaching the order which prevented him from being unclothed in public, and his case highlighted a long-running conflict between his desire for public nudity and legal restrictions.

It is not ok OP for men to be wandering around the woods naked, it's obviously going to be very alarming and intimidating for women. Imagine if loads of men started doing it - and it is always men isn't it, funny that. Entitled arseholes.

I wouldn’t trust the judgement of anyone who wanders around in public with no clothes on.

They’re clearly not inhabiting the same version of reality that I am, or sharing the same general view of what’s considerate behaviour. They clearly get a kick out of provoking people and pushing boundaries. So I wouldn’t be extending anyone the benefit of the doubt, even if it was some sweet old elderly rambler. Wear some fucking clothes. Once you’re naked in public, I am under no obligation to #bekind.

I’m sure the police would say that someone poses no risk until they’ve actually attacked someone, or threatened to.

But I’d walk elsewhere. We shouldn’t have to, obviously, but there’s no point pretending there aren’t psychos out there, and it makes sense to take reasonable precautions so you can enjoy the walks you do go on.

Fucking men and their obsession with waving their junk about. I’m so sick of it.

Is this in Liverpool and did he have a phone in the bushes on the floor? Someone reported something very similar on Facebook.

No, not Liverpool. Weirdo men obsessed with their genitals are clearly a national issue.

I've got someone to walk with tomorrow so hopefully will have a nicer and longer worry free walk.

I have also emailed Jess Phillips, although I don't know if I did that correctly as not tried contacting an MP before - seems like just a normal email address. Will update if I get a response.

Thanks for the support.

Up to a three inch blade is perfectly legal to carry as is a heavy maglite. I'd probs carry the latter in a bag as it'd be hard to explain why you're carrying one in daylight. I'm betting that most naked men would not be keen to go at it with a woman wielding a knife who looks like she means business.

Yes I agree - I’m sure those naked ramblers and naked cyclists (ouch) are usually arrested?! Also, isn’t it technically flashing? Or does that have to be an erect penis?

Flashing is a well known predictor of sexual assault. I'd be asking on your local Facebook group if any women want to gang together to walk dogs in a group

How horrible OP, you’re definitely not overreacting. I walk my dog regularly in local woods too but would probably change my habits if there was a problem with a naked man in there. I know I shouldn’t have to but would just feel too vulnerable on my own, my dog might deter someone from trying anything but I don’t know how much protection he would be if I was actually attacked!
I have heard deep heat spray is good to have on you as it is not classed as a weapon so legal to carry

Deep heat in the eyes and mouth would 100% hurt the fucker so bad that you'd be able to get away. It's basically pepper spray because it's got capsicum in it

Absolutely @Cinaferna it is one the biggest signs of escalation. Flashers are rarely viewed by some as no more harmful than a bit of benny hill comedy but it couldn’t be further from the grim truth. A quote from David Wilson professor emeritus of criminology at Birmingham university ( author and television commentator)
“Every single serial killer I have worked with was motivated by sexual fantasy. Indecently exposing themselves to strangers, as Dahmer did in 1982, is a part of that. The flashing is about the reaction they're going to get, they want to feel powerful, shocking and like they're in control. Often they want to feel ultra masculine and enjoy their victim being at a disadvantage.”

So many awful killers start in this way escalating the risk, control and frequency: Wayne couzens, Jeffrey Dahmer, Peter Sutclife, Colin pitchfork to name a few

I’d wager he’d wear more if there were bears in the wood.

I agree with everything you've posted, and I'd sign.

Thanks all.

Lovely 10 mile walk today with my friend and no penis in sight, thankfully! I explained the duality of the nudity laws in public areas to her and she was equally as shocked, as I think most women would be.

If anyone does want to make a petition feel free. Sadly I don't have the time at the moment as I'm doing a few caring roles and can't give it more headspace or I think it would tip me over the edge.

Not heard from Jess Phillips yet but I don't know if I should expect to.

Stay safe everyone.

Have you got a personal alarm? I would get one. They can be very loud and I think some will send an automated message as well. I hope the dog's a big one! Don't walk in the dark and don't walk in too lonely areas, but I would be careful not to do that anyway even if there was no specific danger, you never know who might be lurking, this particular man may be perfectly safe just a bit odd.