10 May 2023 , 13:43
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A driver has told of the "terrifying" moment she spotted someone "crawling and writhing on the ground" while dressed in a black "gimp" suit.
Lucy Anne was on her way home in the early hours of Tuesday when she noticed a figure jump out in front of her car near Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.
She initially believed it to be a "badger" but, upon inspection, discovered a man wearing a mask with two white crosses on the eyes.
After speeding away, she recalled the frightening encounter to her friends, who pointed out that he matched the description of a latex-clad man who has been terrorising communities for a number of years.
Authorities have been called on more than 20 occasions since 2016 after reports that the latex-clothed man had chased people walking home alone at night while grunting.
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Lucy Anne told the Mirror: "It was just terrifying."
The latex-clad man was seen wearing a mask with two white crosses on the eyes (BPM MEDIABPM MEDIA)She called police at 12.07am and officers arrived at the scene three minutes later, detaining a man in his 30s nearby.
They arrested him on suspicion of causing a public nuisance.
He had previously been held on suspicion of causing a public nuisance in the Cleeve, Claverham and Yatton areas last October after a man was seen wearing an all-in-one black rubber suit.
He remains under investigation for those incidents.
Authorities have been called on more than 20 occasions since 2016 (Handout)Lucy Anne took to Facebook to warn others, saying she has "never been so frightened in her entire life" and that it was "such a strange experience that she honestly thought she had hallucinated".
She added: "If you see this man, do not interact with him, walk away and phone the police."
Lucy Anne said she hopes that her post will alert locals to any other sightings, adding: "Although hopefully that won’t happen now someone has been arrested!"
Avon and Somerset Police said a woman reported seeing a man wearing latex jump out in front of her vehicle in Accommodation Road, Bleadon, shortly after midnight on Monday.
The man reportedly chased people walking home alone at night while grunting (Handout)Inspector Graeme Hall, of the neighbourhood policing team, said: "We understand this latest incident may cause the community some concern.
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"We took this morning's report extremely seriously and had officers on the scene within minutes which ultimately led to the arrest being made.
"To reassure the community, we will be carrying out extra patrols in the Bleadon area and anyone concerned about this, or any other incident, is encouraged to speak to an officer."
Police are appealing for anyone who saw a man acting suspiciously in the Bleadon area overnight or has CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage to get in touch.
Joshua Hunt of the Claverham area, appeared at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court today, charged with two counts of affray and one count each of possession of a bladed article and committing an act of outraging public decency.
The second affray charge relates to an incident in Bleadon on Sunday (May 7). Meanwhile, the outraging public decency charge relates to an incident in Cleeve on October 25, 2022.