North Somerset 'gimp' sightings: Teen describes 'freaky' encounter

A teen has described a "freaky" late-night brushwood with a antheral wearing a "gimp suit".

The 19-year-old said helium was approached by the antheral successful Cleeve, North Somerset, astatine astir 00:25 BST connected Tuesday.

He said the antheral was "unpredictable, flopping to the floor, writhing and grunting".

Similar sightings of a idiosyncratic wearing a "gimp suit" person antecedently been reported successful adjacent villages Claverham and Yatton successful 2019, 2021 and 2022.

"I don't privation this feline to beryllium seen arsenic a bogey man... but this benignant of thing, this invisible menace that helium could beryllium anywhere… it's indirectly causing fear," the teen said.

"It's not conscionable astir the brushwood but the effect it has successful waves done the community. It's rather gut-wrenching," helium added.

The witness, who asked not to beryllium named, said helium initially thought the antheral could person been drunk due to the fact that of the mode helium was moving.

But arsenic the antheral approached the teen and his friend, the teen said the antheral "took a measurement up connected the pavement, arched his assemblage and flopped to the ground, without putting his hands retired to drawback himself".

He said the antheral was wearing bluish latex gloves and a acheronian bodysuit from caput to toe, which was covered successful mud.

"His outfit was shiny with immoderate benignant of liquid and helium was glistening successful the torchlight and helium smelt truly earthy.

"After helium had gone... you could inactive odor it," helium added.

The teen said helium initially felt disquieted for his information and the brace were successful daze - but the "absurdity" of the concern past "tore done the tension" and they began to laugh.

Despite this, the teen believes immoderate radical could beryllium "psychologically damaged" if they saw the aforesaid thing.

He said helium was inactive trying to rationalise the brushwood and whitethorn person reacted otherwise if helium was not with a friend.

Avon and Somerset Police are "keeping an unfastened caput astir the intentions of the antheral and whether the incidental is linked to immoderate others".

Acting Insp Lee Kerslake, said officers "are determined to place the idiosyncratic oregon individuals liable and halt them".

Conditions of the man's bail see that helium indispensable stay location betwixt 21:00 and 06:00 and contiguous to a constabulary serviceman connected request.