Latest news with #urbanjaguar
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.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Mystery figure terrorises neighbourhood by prowling the streets - dressed as a black cat
A mysterious figure dressed in a catsuit and prowling along paths near Wallasey Beach in the Wirral has terrified locals. The person has caused chaos in the neighbourhood in Merseyside with some residents revealing they had 'never been so scared' after they encountered him. The figure, dressed entirely in a skin-tight black cat suit and mask, has been described as an 'urban jaguar', 'banshee' and a 'gimp' by residents after he was caught meowing and writhing around on the ground. Pictures and videos on social media show the peculiar person prancing along a path and wriggling under fences near a local Harvester pub. In a post on a local Facebook community page, Abbie Gilbert wrote: '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!' Accompanying pictures showed a shadowy figure walking uphill, snapped in the torch light of Ms Gilbert's phone. One resident told the BBC that she noticed something strange as she walked her dog. Pictures and videos on social media show the peculiar person prancing along a path and wriggling under fences near a local Harvester pub She explained that as soon as she walked away from nearby streetlights, she began to hear growling. Her terrier Mac began barking and she shone her phone torch in to the field where she spotted 'a man in a panther costume', crawling up the hill towards her on all fours. She added: 'I didn't feel scared really, he was just waving his arms and making panther noises. I felt more confused than scared.' One resident, Becky Edwards, commented under the post that it was the same figure her friend had seen a few months ago and posted a picture of the man in a cat suit wriggling around on the floor near a fence. Another local, Adam Crouch, the owner of nearby Northern Kites Kitesurf and Wingfoil School, told the Telegraph that he thought it may simply be someone 'having a laugh'. However Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell encouraged anyone spotting the mysterious figure in a morph suit to report it to the police immediately. While the shadowy figure has sparked concern among some locals, others thought the incident was hilarious and took to Facebook to poke fun at the bizarre incident. Some joked, writing: 'I went through a stage of doing this year's ago but I've now got through it, don't ask MEOW!!!!' and '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'. Others called it 'the stuff of nightmares' while some asked 'is catting a thing now?'. MailOnline has contacted Merseyside Police for comment. The episode has drawn comparisons with the 'Somerset Gimp' who terrified motorists driving home at night by dressing in a black gimp suit in May 2023 in Bleadon, near Weston-super-Mare. Joshua Hunt, 32, 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' in public after being linked to 25 horrifying incidents. Hunt's victims recalled never being so scared and told the court: 'I have never felt fear like that before, or since and I can only describe the scene as like something you see in a horror movie, I was that scared.' Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that Hunt had previously been arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance over a series of other 'gimp' incidents in the Cleeve, Claverham and Yatton areas of the county last year.
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Telegraph
Mystery figure prowls streets dressed as big cat
A mystery figure has been terrorising a neighbourhood while dressed as a large cat. The figure – variously described online as an 'urban jaguar', 'banshee' and a 'gimp' – has been spotted prowling near Wallasey Beach in the Wirral. Footage posted on social media showed the figure dressed in a dark figure-hugging morph suit and a cat mask. Abbie Gilbert said she had been walking her dog on Sunday evening when her path crossed with the Merseyside panther. She posted footage of the encounter on the Facebook page Crimewatch Wirral with the caption: '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.' Adam Crouch, the owner of nearby Northern Kites Kitesurf and Wingfoil School, said that the incident had taken place in the coastal park behind the Harvester Derby Pool Wallasey. He told The Telegraph: 'It could be someone having a laugh or someone trying to prey on people. It is quite weird. Maybe he just always dresses like that.' Another video posted on Facebook showed frightened car passengers screaming at the prancing figure. Emily Spurrell, the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, encouraged those with concerns to report them to the police. The cat figure's antics have been met with both ridicule and fear online. One user responded to a video by writing: '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.' Another advised those confronted by the fancy-dress feline to 'bark'. Other users feared for the cat person's safety, with one suggesting the police would 'have a word with him to stop jumping out on people as he himself could end up getting battered by someone'. Another dog walker spotted the Merseyside panther in the shadows by a pub. The woman told the BBC: '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.'
