Prowling, growling ‘panther man' could be next Somerset Gimp, say residents
The figure, who residents call 'panther man', has been filmed wriggling under fences near the Derby Pool Harvester in Wallasey on the Wirral, and seen making 'growling' noises at passers-by trying to enjoy the nearby beach.
Some residents believe he could be like Joshua Hunt, known as the Somerset Gimp, who menaced people in locations across the county on at least 25 separate occasions over five years before he was stopped in 2023.
In November of that year, Hunt, then 32, appeared in court, and was banned from 'crawling, wriggling or writhing on the ground' in a full-body suit for five years.
In Wallasey, the mysterious 'panther man' has been described by residents as an 'urban jaguar', 'banshee', and a 'gimp', dressed in a dark figure-hugging suit and a cat mask. After the grainy footage of him emerged, The Telegraph went to the Wirral to find out more.
Abbie Gilbert described how she 'heard a man making cat noises', and shone her torch to find the figure 'waving his arms at me before crawling up the hill' while she was out walking her dog on a Sunday evening.
She told The Telegraph: 'I didn't really find him to be a threat, just a bit bizarre. He didn't approach me, he just made some weird poses and then scarpered off.
'I see strange things on the Wirral all the time so it wasn't too much of a shock, it was actually quite amusing. In all honesty, I think he's just doing it for a laugh, I don't think it's anything malicious.'
But others have compared the mystery figure to Hunt, who was made the subject of a sexual risk order after women in Somerset reported him grabbing his crotch as he confronted them.
One dog walker who visited the beach on Friday said: 'I know in Somerset a few years ago, there was a guy dressing up in a gimp suit frightening people, and I'm worried the same is going to start happening here. If you were a female or elderly, it would be quite frightening.
'He's probably not all right. Maybe the police need to check on him.'
Clutching his cavapoo, Minnie, dog walker Rob Riley, 62, said: 'I've never seen a fellow dressed as a cat. But if I did I'd set the dog on him.'
Kerry Blackmore, who uses the beach to walk her dog, said: 'It's creepy. I'd turn around and walk the other way. He [Rolo, her Jack Russell] would probably run the other way too.'
A couple of miles down the coast, in the seaside resort of New Brighton, opinion was split.
Paul Bowie, owner of the Wirral Model Shop, said: 'Someone is doing it for a bit of a laugh. It's great for the area. If he's not going to attack anyone, then it's brilliant.
'There have been weird things going on here back to the 19th century. Although back then it was murder.'
He is referring to an 1890 incident in New Brighton – still notorious in these parts – when Felix Spicer, a local father, killed his two sons.
Maureen Grimshaw, 75, who was visiting Mr Bowie's shop with her husband Jim after a cycle ride, was less enthused about the mystery figure's antics. She fears the unknown person could be dangerous, saying: 'What if he kills someone? That wouldn't be ideal, would it?'
At the Ship Hotel pub a few doors down, conversation has turned to who is behind the mask. Theories are thrown about but nobody is certain.
'It's just an 'eejit',' said Tony Fisher, 35, as he sat at the bar with a pint. 'I can't imagine it's anything sinister. Things like this happen in London but not here. Nothing happens around here.'
There are believed to have been three sightings so far.
But despite residents' concerns, Merseyside Police is not investigating. A force spokesman said no reports had been received and 'as far as we are aware no crime has been committed'.
In a car park near the beach, The Telegraph waited for several hours, until midnight, in the hope of a sighting. But the 'panther man' never appeared.For now, at least, the mysterious figure's intentions and identity remain a mystery.
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