Latest news with #AbbieGilbert
New York Post
07-07-2025
- New York Post
Mystery ‘gimp' in full-body cat suit freaks out town with jump scares, unwanted meows: ‘Just a bit strange'
You've got to be kitten me! A mysterious man in a black cat suit has been menacing residents of a small British town, leaping from behind trees and graves and yelling 'meow' — leaving locals more puzzled than panicked. Now residents in the Liverpool suburb of Wallasey are trying to identify their 'Pantherman.' 'The community has gone mental with it,' local Abbie Gilbert told UK outlet Metro. 'Everyone and their nan seems to have seen him, and there are loads of posts as people are trying to hunt him or it down. The mysterious 'Pantherman' in England has become a local legend — but no one has figured out who he is. Facebook 'From everyone's sightings, the Pantherman is harmless although he does look scary,' Gilbert said. 'I really don't think he's dangerous, just a bit strange.' The bizarre figures dons a tight, full-body black suit with a mask resembling a cat, and has a knack of lurking around at night in wooded areas before he jumps out and scares his victims. Photos of the mysterious prankster show him crawling around or writhing on the ground while meowing — and in one clip is seen sliding under a fence near a pub in town, the outlet said. 'I didn't feel scared really,' one resident posted on Facebook, according to the BBC. 'He was just waving his arms and making panther noises. I felt more confused than scared. Residents in Wallasey said their 'Pantherman' reminds them of the 'Somerset gimp,' who made headlines in 2023. Facebook 'My little terrier, Mac, started barking away at the figure,' the woman said. 'So, I got my phone for light and captured a short video. A man in a panther costume then crawled up the hill on all fours.' To residents, the wannabe-cat reminds locals of the 'Somerset gimp' — a 32-year-old Brit named Joshua Hunt who terrified another UK town in May 2023 in similar fashion, except with a gimp mask. Hunt was later nabbed and banned from wearing a mask for five years, Metro said. In recent years, Akinwale Arobieke, who was given the moniker 'Purple Aki,' became an internet sensation in Liverpool by approaching strangers and asking to squeeze their muscles. Now, residents in Wallasey have their hands full with a new nut job. 'He just likes being a giant cat,' one resident said on Facebook. 'He doesn't frighten our dog.'
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
Prowling, growling ‘panther man' could be next Somerset Gimp, say residents
Sightings of a mysterious black-clad figure prowling outside a pub in a Merseyside seaside town have led to concerns he could be the next Somerset Gimp. The figure, who residents call 'panther man', has been filmed wriggling under fences near the Derby Pool Harvester in Wallasey on the Wirral, and seen making 'growling' noises at passers-by trying to enjoy the nearby beach. Some residents believe he could be like Joshua Hunt, known as the Somerset Gimp, who menaced people in locations across the county on at least 25 separate occasions over five years before he was stopped in 2023. In November of that year, Hunt, then 32, appeared in court, and was banned from 'crawling, wriggling or writhing on the ground' in a full-body suit for five years. In Wallasey, the mysterious 'panther man' has been described by residents as an 'urban jaguar', 'banshee', and a 'gimp', dressed in a dark figure-hugging suit and a cat mask. After the grainy footage of him emerged, The Telegraph went to the Wirral to find out more. Abbie Gilbert described how she 'heard a man making cat noises', and shone her torch to find the figure 'waving his arms at me before crawling up the hill' while she was out walking her dog on a Sunday evening. She told The Telegraph: 'I didn't really find him to be a threat, just a bit bizarre. He didn't approach me, he just made some weird poses and then scarpered off. 'I see strange things on the Wirral all the time so it wasn't too much of a shock, it was actually quite amusing. In all honesty, I think he's just doing it for a laugh, I don't think it's anything malicious.' But others have compared the mystery figure to Hunt, who was made the subject of a sexual risk order after women in Somerset reported him grabbing his crotch as he confronted them. One dog walker who visited the beach on Friday said: 'I know in Somerset a few years ago, there was a guy dressing up in a gimp suit frightening people, and I'm worried the same is going to start happening here. If you were a female or elderly, it would be quite frightening. 'He's probably not all right. Maybe the police need to check on him.' Clutching his cavapoo, Minnie, dog walker Rob Riley, 62, said: 'I've never seen a fellow dressed as a cat. But if I did I'd set the dog on him.' Kerry Blackmore, who uses the beach to walk her dog, said: 'It's creepy. I'd turn around and walk the other way. He [Rolo, her Jack Russell] would probably run the other way too.' A couple of miles down the coast, in the seaside resort of New Brighton, opinion was split. Paul Bowie, owner of the Wirral Model Shop, said: 'Someone is doing it for a bit of a laugh. It's great for the area. If he's not going to attack anyone, then it's brilliant. 'There have been weird things going on here back to the 19th century. Although back then it was murder.' He is referring to an 1890 incident in New Brighton – still notorious in these parts – when Felix Spicer, a local father, killed his two sons. Maureen Grimshaw, 75, who was visiting Mr Bowie's shop with her husband Jim after a cycle ride, was less enthused about the mystery figure's antics. She fears the unknown person could be dangerous, saying: 'What if he kills someone? That wouldn't be ideal, would it?' At the Ship Hotel pub a few doors down, conversation has turned to who is behind the mask. Theories are thrown about but nobody is certain. 'It's just an 'eejit',' said Tony Fisher, 35, as he sat at the bar with a pint. 'I can't imagine it's anything sinister. Things like this happen in London but not here. Nothing happens around here.' There are believed to have been three sightings so far. But despite residents' concerns, Merseyside Police is not investigating. A force spokesman said no reports had been received and 'as far as we are aware no crime has been committed'. In a car park near the beach, The Telegraph waited for several hours, until midnight, in the hope of a sighting. But the 'panther man' never now, at least, the mysterious figure's intentions and identity remain a mystery. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Telegraph
Prowling, growling ‘panther man' could be next Somerset Gimp, say residents
Sightings of a mysterious black-clad figure prowling outside a pub in a Merseyside seaside town have led to concerns he could be the next Somerset Gimp. The figure, who residents call 'panther man', has been filmed wriggling under fences near the Derby Pool Harvester in Wallasey on the Wirral, and seen making 'growling' noises at passers-by trying to enjoy the nearby beach. Some residents believe he could be like Joshua Hunt, known as the Somerset Gimp, who menaced people in locations across the county on at least 25 separate occasions over five years before he was stopped in 2023. In November of that year, Hunt, then 32, appeared in court, and was banned from 'crawling, wriggling or writhing on the ground' in a full-body suit for five years. In Wallasey, the mysterious 'panther man' has been described by residents as an 'urban jaguar', 'banshee', and a 'gimp', dressed in a dark figure-hugging suit and a cat mask. After the grainy footage of him emerged, The Telegraph went to the Wirral to find out more. Abbie Gilbert described how she 'heard a man making cat noises', and shone her torch to find the figure 'waving his arms at me before crawling up the hill' while she was out walking her dog on a Sunday evening. She told The Telegraph: 'I didn't really find him to be a threat, just a bit bizarre. He didn't approach me, he just made some weird poses and then scarpered off. 'I see strange things on the Wirral all the time so it wasn't too much of a shock, it was actually quite amusing. In all honesty, I think he's just doing it for a laugh, I don't think it's anything malicious.' But others have compared the mystery figure to Hunt, who was made the subject of a sexual risk order after women in Somerset reported him grabbing his crotch as he confronted them. One dog walker who visited the beach on Friday said: 'I know in Somerset a few years ago, there was a guy dressing up in a gimp suit frightening people, and I'm worried the same is going to start happening here. If you were a female or elderly, it would be quite frightening. 'He's probably not all right. Maybe the police need to check on him.' Clutching his cavapoo, Minnie, dog walker Rob Riley, 62, said: 'I've never seen a fellow dressed as a cat. But if I did I'd set the dog on him.' Kerry Blackmore, who uses the beach to walk her dog, said: 'It's creepy. I'd turn around and walk the other way. He [Rolo, her Jack Russell] would probably run the other way too.' A couple of miles down the coast, in the seaside resort of New Brighton, opinion was split. Paul Bowie, owner of the Wirral Model Shop, said: 'Someone is doing it for a bit of a laugh. It's great for the area. If he's not going to attack anyone, then it's brilliant. 'There have been weird things going on here back to the 19th century. Although back then it was murder.' He is referring to an 1890 incident in New Brighton – still notorious in these parts – when Felix Spicer, a local father, killed his two sons. Maureen Grimshaw, 75, who was visiting Mr Bowie's shop with her husband Jim after a cycle ride, was less enthused about the mystery figure's antics. She fears the unknown person could be dangerous, saying: 'What if he kills someone? That wouldn't be ideal, would it?' At the Ship Hotel pub a few doors down, conversation has turned to who is behind the mask. Theories are thrown about but nobody is certain. 'It's just an 'eejit',' said Tony Fisher, 35, as he sat at the bar with a pint. 'I can't imagine it's anything sinister. Things like this happen in London but not here. Nothing happens around here.' No investigation, say police There are believed to have been three sightings so far. But despite residents' concerns, Merseyside Police is not investigating. A force spokesman said no reports had been received and 'as far as we are aware no crime has been committed'. In a car park near the beach, The Telegraph waited for several hours, until midnight, in the hope of a sighting. But the 'panther man' never appeared. For now, at least, the mysterious figure's intentions and identity remain a mystery.
North Wales Chronicle
04-07-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Mystery figure dressed in black cat morph suit spotted near UK beach
The person, dressed in a skin-tight black cat suit and mask, has been caught on camera meowing and crawling on the ground by passers by as well as prancing around and approaching people in parked cars near The Derby Pool Harvester on Bayview Drive. One resident, Abbie Gilbert, who captured the bizarre encounter on video, posted to Facebook asking if anyone could uncover the stranger. The mystery figure was seen prancing along the path (Image: Becky Edwards) She said: 'Does anyone know who the freak in the cat mask and morph suit is at the coastal park near the harvester? 'I was walking my dog tonight and heard a man making cat noises, shone a torch, he was waving his arms at me before crawling up the hill. Never been so scared.' The person was seen wearing an all black morph suit with a cat mask (Image: Abbie Gilbert) Another video shared by a resident shows people in a car screaming as the figure skips along before coming up to the car window. More than 400 comments have been left by people with some terrified by the strange situation, while others thought the incident was hilarious. The figure was also spotted crawling on the floor (Image: Becky Edwards) One person commented: 'Absolutely not! Terrifying.' Another said: 'I don't know whether to laugh or be terrified.' A third person commented: 'That's the most Birkenhead thing I've seen all day.' The person, dressed in a skin-tight black cat suit and mask, has been caught on camera meowing and crawling on the ground (Image: Becky Edwards) Another said: 'Must be one of those fetishes, some dodgy stuff goes on down there so I've been told. I would not go there after dark and certainly not alone.' The bizarre encounters have been covered in several national media outlets. Merseyside Police has been contacted for comment but they confirmed they have not received any reports of any offences.
Rhyl Journal
04-07-2025
- Rhyl Journal
Mystery figure dressed in black cat morph suit spotted near UK beach
The person, dressed in a skin-tight black cat suit and mask, has been caught on camera meowing and crawling on the ground by passers by as well as prancing around and approaching people in parked cars near The Derby Pool Harvester on Bayview Drive. One resident, Abbie Gilbert, who captured the bizarre encounter on video, posted to Facebook asking if anyone could uncover the stranger. The mystery figure was seen prancing along the path (Image: Becky Edwards) She said: 'Does anyone know who the freak in the cat mask and morph suit is at the coastal park near the harvester? 'I was walking my dog tonight and heard a man making cat noises, shone a torch, he was waving his arms at me before crawling up the hill. Never been so scared.' The person was seen wearing an all black morph suit with a cat mask (Image: Abbie Gilbert) Another video shared by a resident shows people in a car screaming as the figure skips along before coming up to the car window. More than 400 comments have been left by people with some terrified by the strange situation, while others thought the incident was hilarious. The figure was also spotted crawling on the floor (Image: Becky Edwards) One person commented: 'Absolutely not! Terrifying.' Another said: 'I don't know whether to laugh or be terrified.' A third person commented: 'That's the most Birkenhead thing I've seen all day.' The person, dressed in a skin-tight black cat suit and mask, has been caught on camera meowing and crawling on the ground (Image: Becky Edwards) Another said: 'Must be one of those fetishes, some dodgy stuff goes on down there so I've been told. I would not go there after dark and certainly not alone.' The bizarre encounters have been covered in several national media outlets. Merseyside Police has been contacted for comment but they confirmed they have not received any reports of any offences.
