Arrest made after another potential "Somerset Gimp Man" sighting
A person with their face fully covered approached two men in Cleeve last night and began rolling around on the floor
Last updated 26th Oct 2022
A man has been arrested in connection with a bizarre incident in North Somerset overnight, and Avon and Somerset Police believe it could be connected with previous sightings of the so called "Somerset Gimp Man".
Officers say someone approached two people in Cleeve at around 1am on Wednesday morning (October 26) with their face fully covered, and began rolling around on the floor, before walking off.
It happened on Millier Road, with the man walking off in the direction of Cleeve Hill Road.
It comes after several similar incidents in the area since 2019, in which a man, often dressed in a full latex body suit, would approach people in the middle of the night, grunt at them and sometimes even run at them.
The police say they used a helicopter and police dogs to help search the area in Cleeve last night.
"A man in his 30s was subsequently arrested from an address in the local area on suspicion of causing a public nuisance," their statement reads.
"He has since been released on bail with conditions to remain home between 9pm and 6am and to present to a police officer on request."
While the man has only been formally arrested in connection with this latest incident, officers say they are keeping an open mind as to whether it's connected to the others.
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.
Prior to this latest incident, the last was reported in June of this year in Yatton, with the woman involved saying it left her absolutely terrified.
Two arrests were made in connection with the incidents back in 2019, but no one was charged due to a lack of evidence.
In total more than a dozen incidents have been reported.