Arrest after another sighting of "Somerset Gimp Man"
A man in a latex body suit jumped out in front of a car in Bleadon overnight
A man has been arrested after yet another sighting of the so called "Somerset Gimp Man".
Avon and Somerset Police say they were called to Accomodation Road in Bleadon just after midnight last night (9 May), when a woman reported a man in a latex suit had jumped out in front of her car.
We're told officers were on the scene in three minutes and arrested a man in his 30s nearby.
It is just the latest of many similar incidents that have occurred across North Somerset over several years.
Most recently the same man was arrested last October in connection with an overnight incident in Cleeve, when a man approached two people with his face fully covered and began rolling around on the floor in front of them, before getting up and walking off.
In other incidents residents have reported having a man in latex grunt at them and even run at them, causing terror.
The first was reported in the summer of 2019 in Claverham, when a woman in her 20s claimed she was approached by a masked man.
Then in September 2021 a couple reported seeing a masked man starting through the window of their home in the middle of the night.
In June 2022 in Yatton another woman said a similar incident had left her terrified.
Inspector Graeme Hall, of the neighbourhood policing team, said: “We understand this latest incident may cause the community some concern.
“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.”
The police say the man is still under investigation in connection with several incidents of this kind.
Two other arrests were made in 2019 in connection with similar incidents, but no one was charged due to a lack of evidence.