Stalker brings terror to streets
WOMANS SAYS MAN KNOCKS ON HER WINDOWS AT NIGHT AND HAS BEEN SEEN HIDING IN BUSHES
A MOTHER-OF-TWO has spoken of the campaign of harassment she has suffered from a stalker who has been terrorising women in south Manchester.
The man has been targeting properties off Upper Chorlton Road, Whalley Range, for several years and his behaviour has escalated.
One victim, who lives alone with her children, told the M.E.N. she has been left in a state of ‘constant paranoia’ by the stalker, who a number of other women have complained about.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed no arrests had been made in the case because of ‘very limited evidence,’ but said they were ‘fully aware’ of the problem and have stepped up high-visibility patrols in the area.
The single mum, who has asked to remain anonymous, has been targeted by the stalker since she moved into a ground floor flat in Whalley Range in 2017.
The prowler knocks on her bedroom window in the early hours of the morning, moves her bin so he can climb up to look into her bathroom, and has been spotted hiding in bushes.
The victim says she has reported her stalker to GMP several times, but has been told there isn’t sufficient evidence to arrest him.
She also claims she was told by one police officer that unless her stalker attacked her, it is unlikely they would be able to arrest him.
He is described as being in his 50s, around 5ft 9ins, bald on top with short grey hair at the sides of his head.
“It started as soon as I moved in,” she said. “I live on a ground floor apartment and it’s a big block of flats with a big community green space with lots of bushes.
“Other female neighbours told me about him when I moved in. Then I noticed my bins started moving to underneath my bathroom window which I believe he did so that he could look in. I saw him a few times and he looks very unassuming so I wondered maybe if I was imagining things.”
With time, the man’s behaviour has become more persistent, brazen and frightening.
“He began to knock on the windows at night time or would ring the doorbell,” the mum said.
“There are six single women living on the ground floor and I think he knows that.
“My intercom doesn’t work so every time a person rings I have to go down and look through the front door. Every time I go down there is nobody there.
“I believe he hides round the corner waiting for one of us to step outside and look.” The woman, who says she has reported her stalker to GMP every time she sees him, or believes he might have visited her flat, is disappointed with the lack of progress made in catching him.
She said: “Nobody has any physical evidence of him being there so it is just word of mouth from the woman who live here. It doesn’t feel like anything that is being done is going to stop this guy.”
The mum also said she is upset by the reaction from some of her neighbours, who she claims get ‘defensive’ if she asks them to report him to the police.
She said she decided to speak out following the death of 33-year-old marketing executive, Sarah Everard, who went missing on her way home from a friend’s house in south London. She says she feels ‘constantly terrified’ and keeps her blinds and windows closed permanently, even in the summer, out of fear.
“I feel like I am getting this paranoia and nobody checks in to see who I am apart from the other victims,” she said.
“You just feel like you’ve been ignored for so long that you start to doubt yourself. It has really taken its toll on my mental health.”
She added: “Around a year ago a community officer actually said to me that until he attacks or kills one of us there is not much they can arrest him for.”
Inspector John Picton, of GMP’s City of Manchester division, said: “All reports made in relation to this are being investigated as a whole rather than individually. We understand the concern and worry that these events have created for the community and high visibility patrols have been increased in the area and response patrols, which operate 24/7 in the area, have been made aware of the problem and asked to pay particular attention to the specific location.
“A local PCSO has spoken to the woman to offer reassurance and support and he has also offered crime advice and is in the process of obtaining crime prevention equipment to improve the security of the building.
“We are committed to tackling these issues and we would encourage anyone in the area with information to contact police on 101 or via email to the local neighbourhood team using didsbury@gmp.pnn.police.uk.”