Latest news with #EmilySpurrell
Metro
04-07-2025
- Metro
Mystery person in big cat 'gimp' costume terrifies locals in Merseyside
The mystery figure has been spotted by a number of locals around Wallasey Beach (Picture: Facebook/Abbie Gilbert) A person dressed in a catsuit has been terrorising locals after being spotted prowling along secluded paths in Merseyside. The figure, dressed in a skin-tight black cat suit and mask, was captured on camera meowing and writhing on the ground near Wallasey Beach. Footage shows the person wriggling under a fence near a Harvester pub and prancing along a path. Another video shows people in a car screaming as the figure approaches close by. Residents claim he resembles a 'banshee,' 'urban jaguar' and even a 'gimp' and locals like Abbie Gilbert have had enough. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. She posted on Facebook: 'Anyone know who the freak in the cat mask and morph suit is at the coastal park near the harvester? '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!' A photo that she took and posted shows him walking up a hill, illuminated by her torchlight. Some locals have spotted the person prowling on a hill (Picture: Facebook) Another local told the BBC that she also noticed the strange figure when she was walking her dog. When she shone her torchlight on the figure she saw the man crawling up the hill on all fours. She said: 'I didn't feel scared really, he was just waving his arms and making panther noises. I felt more confused than scared.' Others locals have seen the funny side to it all (Picture: Facebook) Others have seen the funny side, with one posting on Facebook: 'I went through a stage of doing this year's ago but I've now got through it, don't ask MEOW!'. Another joked: 'Hi, this is my cat. He isn't chipped and is quite skittish, we've been missing him for a few days so please don't approach again. We're hoping he comes back home soon, my wife's boyfriend is worried sick'. Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said she hoped anyone with concerns would report them to the police. Metro has contacted Merseyside Police for comment. The person bears a striking similarity to the 'Somerset gimp' who terrified locals in Bleadon, near Weston-super-Mare, in May 2023. It was revealed that Joshua Hunt, 32, was the man behind the gimp mask and was banned for five years from wearing masks, dressing in all-in-one black outfits at night and 'crawling, wriggling or writhing on the ground'. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: Girl, 1, dies after police called to 'concern for child' at Sheffield home Arrow MORE: Convenience store worker dies after 'manager sat on and suffocated her' Arrow MORE: British tourist among two killed by elephant during Zambia safari trip
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mystery figure dressed as big cat on the prowl
UGC A mystery figure dressed in a large black cat costume has been seen prowling secluded areas close to a beach. The bizarre sightings have prompted a flurry of comments and photographs posted on Facebook by residents living near Wallasey beach in Wirral. A video posted on the website showed car passengers screaming as the figure was seen approaching close to their vehicle. Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said she hoped anyone with concerns would report them to the police. One Facebook user posted: "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." Another told the BBC how she was out for a dog walk when she noticed something strange. UGC The woman said: "I drove down to the coast by the Harvester pub to walk my dog and as soon as I was away from the street lights I began to hear a feline growling to my left. "My little terrier, Mac, started barking away at the figure, 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. "I didn't feel scared really, he was just waving his arms and making panther noises. I felt more confused than scared." Another man walking his dog along the beach said he believed he knew who the figure might be and thought it was intended to be a prank. "I don't know his name, I think it's just a wind up. He's definitely not out to frighten people, he does it for fun," he said. "He just likes being a giant cat. He doesn't frighten our dog." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Wallasey
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wallasey: Mystery figure in big cat costume prowls seaside town
A mystery figure dressed in a large black cat costume has been seen prowling secluded areas close to a bizarre sightings have prompted a flurry of comments and photographs posted on Facebook by residents living near Wallasey beach in Wirral.A video posted on the website showed car passengers screaming as the figure was seen approaching close to their Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said she hoped anyone with concerns would report them to the police. One Facebook user posted: "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."Another told the BBC how she was out for a dog walk when she noticed something strange. The woman said: "I drove down to the coast by the Harvester pub to walk my dog and as soon as I was away from the street lights I began to hear a feline growling to my left."My little terrier, Mac, started barking away at the figure, 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."I didn't feel scared really, he was just waving his arms and making panther noises. I felt more confused than scared." Another man walking his dog along the beach said he believed he knew who the figure might be and thought it was intended to be a prank."I don't know his name, I think it's just a wind up. He's definitely not out to frighten people, he does it for fun," he said."He just likes being a giant cat. He doesn't frighten our dog." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Study shows 110k people affected by domestic abuse on Merseyside
Demand for domestic abuse services on Merseyside has outstripped supply, with more than 117,000 people in the region affected, a report has found. The study, commissioned by Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, highlighted an "urgent" need for more stable, long-term funding in the region to support 10,000 people have received support each year from more than 20 different organisations, many of which are "operating beyond safe capacity", the report found. Spurrell said these services were "being held together by the dedication of overstretched professionals", adding there was "no quick fix" to the problem. The report produced by national charity Women's Aid and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) found 117,000 people, predominantly women and children , experienced domestic abuse in Merseyside each study was "a sobering but vital insight into the pressures facing our domestic abuse services", Spurrell said. 'Key gaps' The study found funding problems leading to high staff turnover at organisations which help victims, which resulted in many missing out on having a single caseworker with whom they could build were also long waiting lists, particularly for therapeutic services and gaps in provision for children and young people, and for marginalised groups and disabled people were also Aid's CEO, Farah Nazeer, said there was "an urgent need for a systematic, coordinated response that addresses key gaps in provision for children and young people as victim-survivors, Black and minoritised women and other marginalised groups".Senior Researcher for the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Violence Prevention Nadia Butler said the review was a "foundation for enhancing and sustaining adequate commissioning of domestic abuse services across Merseyside".Among the 20 recommendations were improved oversight and coordination of domestic abuse funding, strengthened multi-agency working, and better use of said: "While there are no quick fixes or easy solutions, this report gives us a strong foundation to work from." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Police station opens at Alder Hey Children's Hospital
A new police station has opened on the Alder Hey Children's hospital campus in Liverpool. The new base has been established to make officers more accessible to people visiting the hospital and to provide a space that puts vulnerable witnesses at ease, Merseyside Police station will also serve as a drop-in point for the local policing team and response officers, as well as police Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, said it was the first community police station in the region to be based by a hospital and will "ensure officers and staff are accessible to the people they serve". She said the station would meet the "operational needs of modern policing, but also provide a compassionate environment for some of the most vulnerable members of our community".The new site will be known as the Springfield Park Community Police Station, and can be found in the hospital's Catkin will be open on a regular, but not continuous basis, a spokesman for the force said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
