Has anybody else been followed by a random stranger?

[Godxilla]

I was in a mall when I saw a bloke in front of me, he kept on looking at me intently. I thought, "freak", as you do and stared back at him. Thinking nothing of it, I perused TX Maxx, purchasing a couple of items (after waiting patiently in a very long queue). I decided to head out of the mall and pop into a supermarket nearby. As I entered the supermarket, I thought I noticed the same man, which I thought was odd. I had a feeling he had followed me. Whilst picking up a few items on my list, I kept an eagle out, but could not spot him, thankfully. Eventually I made my way to the till, and at the opposite till, the man was there;again he turned around to check me. I noticed he was purchasing croissants only (in my gut I felt that that purchase was a cover, and I thought to myself, nobody would do this would they?) I was going to the exit of this supermarket, and this man was in front of me, and I made sure I checked out whether he would turn left or right. He turned left, and he made his way that way, so I turned right (which was the way I needed to go). I was marching along and I noticed footsteps behind me and then a presence next to me; it was that man, walking alongside me. I got really pissed off, i stopped (he did also) and faced him. He smiled at me (I had a stony expression-so I think). I said "are you following me". He got a little flustered and said he thought he knew me (which I knew was complete bullshit). He then walked away from me. I walked to the car park quickly and checked I wasn't followed which I wasn't.
Anyway, this was in a town, full of hustle and bustle, during the day ; who and why would someone have the audacity to do this? They picked the wrong woman (even though I was feeling a little agitated). In retrospect, he was scanning my ever move which creeps me out. I don't think he expected me to stop and confront him but I do wish I had said more. Should i have taken a photo and reported him? I feel a little guilty now that he may feel free to do this to another woman (perhaps younger and/or vulnerable women.)

I was walking along a canal in broad daylight one summer with ds aged 4 or 5 and dd in pushchair. I noticed this man going in the other direction and got a weird ugh vibe but didn't think much of it. We finished walking and turned round to go back to the car. On the way back ds wanted to have go at crossing a lock and back so I went with him leaving dd on the opposite bank. I noticed the man coming back and staring at us, he'd stand opposite the lock we had to come back on, there were two and he kept dodging from one to the other as we tried to find our way back. He put his hand in his pocket and had a weird look on his face, I knew he was enjoying my fear. Luckily he paid no attention to dd. I waited until a saw a group of people in the distance and when they got nearer I went up to them and asked if we could walk with them as the man was following me. As he saw us talking he sped up and walked away. The group said they'd thought I was with him, and I suppose we looked like a family out together. I was still shaking when I got home and reported it. I don't know what he had in mind but I was terrified and he was taking real pleasure in that. Never felt the same about that stretch of canal again which is a shame as I used to walk there with my parents as a child, it's a popular walking place, not deserted or creepy at all

Do you think we can't tell the difference? Or is there some innocent intent to this observation I'm missing? If not you can shove it

I meant that, as in the OP, the man that was following me was not actually behind me, but passing me at regular intervals (circling?) so he was sometimes in front, sometimes looking in shop windows (like mirrors), then watching and following.

That man was following me. It was load of crap that he said he thought he knew me, just an excuse because I confronted him. Always listen to your instincts as they hold you in good stead. Read The Gift of Fear; eye opening!

I hear what you're saying Melroses. Got lost in translation earlier.

It did a bit! Thank you for the explanation Melroses and I'm sorry for biting your head off.

I wonder if the question we should be asking is - have any women of reasonable age NOT been followed by a man at some point?

I'd like to think I'm being cynical but...

I have self-excluded from so much activity - walks along canals near my former home being one thing - because of my experiences. None of which were that bad really. It's depressing. DH just doesn't get it either. The fear and self exclusion.

The group said they'd thought I was with him, and I suppose we looked like a family out together.

The man who attacked me tried walking alongside me after two men came into the street, so it is a tactic in trying to make it seem like you're together and there's nothing wrong. Something for others to be aware of if they find themselves in this situation, try to stop them giving this impression if you can.

Yes, many times from the age of about 14 onwards. I'm in my 50s now and never get a second look, thank god. The male gaze weighs a fucking ton.

No worries DarkAtTheEndOfUk and Godxilla

My post was a bit minimalist, so not very clear!