THE latest victim of a serial flasher in the district has spoken out in the hope he might be caught.
The victim, a woman in her early 40s, had been walking her dog at around 7am, in fields off Hornbeam Road, Buckhurst Hill, when the pervert struck.
She said: “I was beginning my walk and I saw him jogging then he followed me. Normally there isn't anyone up on that field but I knew behind me there was another man with a dog.
“He was jogging around and was hiding in the bushes waiting for an opportunity. He made sure the other dog walker had gone before he came out to expose himself. He took his whole bottoms off and performed a sex act.
“I shouted a lot of abuse at him because it made me really angry and I wanted someone to come out of the flats, but that seemed to arouse him more. It was only when I shouted 'Can someone come out of the flats and see what this dirty pervert is doing' that he went. A woman came out of the flats and she said exactly the same man had flashed her little girl.”
Police believe the flasher is the same man who carried out a similar act of exposure near the River Roding, off Luxborough Lane, in April and are also linking him to a number of recent incidents.
His latest victim, who lives in Buckhurst Hill, has been badly shaken by her experience and said she couldn't bring herself to walk in the fields again.
She said: “It was pretty sick what he did. There are flats there with children in and they could have seen.
“When it first happened I was really, really angry. I thought: 'How dare he do that to me.' But when I got home I felt nervous. I didn't feel safe in my house.
“I've been flashed before and to be honest I never even reported it- it didn't bother me. But this was something a bit more. He'd waited for an opportunity with me.
“He's taken away something very special to me. I've been ill recently and walking has helped me get better. I've walked my dog on the streets since but I wouldn't dare go there again. I've got a young daughter and I won't let her walk the dog at all now.
“The six week holiday is coming up and I hope they catch him. I'd be prepared to go to court against him.”
The flasher is described as white, aged 40, 5ft 8ins tall, with dark thinning hair in a cropped cut. He is clean-shaven with an egg-shaped face, and has a very white body with no tan marks.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Martin Whitmore at Loughton police station on 0300 333 4444 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here