‘Somerset Gimp’ incident leaves locals too scared to go out

So creepy

Pictures show the lane where the latest 'Somerset Gimp' incident took place - as locals say they are too scared to go jogging. The street in Cleeve is where the man in a full rubber suit and face mask was spotted - sparking a large police response. Locals say two young men were walking home from the pub when the gimp jumped out covered in mud and making strange noises. It follows numerous sightings of 'The Gimp' over the last few years in the village and two others nearby. https://twitter.com/our_je55/status/1585655383959412736 After the latest sighting on the lane a man was arrested and bailed - leaving locals fearing to go out. One said: “I stopped going out for a jog after the gimp man was about a whole ago. I started going out again, and now he’s back. “It did put me off. It’s quite a shock to hear it’s been happening again.“ Another said: “There were loads of police officers with sticks walking along both sides of the hedge searching for something on Tuesday afternoon. “Before we heard the news, we thought they might have been looking for a knife or something and maybe something serious had happened up in Cleeve. “It’s usually quiet around here. The worst thing that’s happened around here recently was the pizza shop being broken into, but that was few years back.” Police raced to Cleeve 1am on Tuesday over reports two male were confronted. They were approached by a person wearing dark clothing and a full face covering. A police spokesman said the force responded "quickly" due to similarities with previous incidents which have "caused significant alarm". In 2019 and 2021 a man wearing a "gimp suit" caused fear in nearby Claverham and Yatton. Police now say a man, in his 30s, was arrested nearby on suspicion of causing a public nuisance. He has been released on bail. Acting Insp Lee Kerslake, of the neighbourhood policing team, said: "No-one has been physically harmed during any of these incidents but we know they have caused concern to the local community and we are determined to identify the individual or individuals responsible and stop them. "We continue to keep an open mind about the intentions of the man and whether the incident is linked to any others." Avon and Somerset Police are carrying out extra patrols in the area. Conditions of the man's bail include that he must remain home between 21:00 and 06:00 and present to a police officer on request.

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