Fear of the dark

Fingle

Member
Oct 2, 2008
14
0
Wolverhampton
I have to say I am loving the thread and can't wait to know what happens next on a number of the stories. I have to say I find the stalker/bully story worrying I had my own experience with a psycho-stalker-bully, although not nearly as bad as this bloke sounds.

Generally I'm not bothered by the dark, there are a number of places on Cannock Chase that bother me at night or during the day (and I don't mean the doggers), found out from a retired local bobby recently one of them has a grim history. It has been the scene of a couple of suicides a murder victim was found there and a girl was raped there in the 1950s and again in the 1970s (totally different incidents) all in a 200m square area. Thing is the bloke could have been spinning a yarn, to be honest I'm not that bothered if he was, but I prefer to avoid it during day and night, alone or part of a group.

The biggest dramas have been with humans, most recently a couple of yocals with a rifle. Some friends and I have permission to use some forestry on the Welsh border and myself, another friend - lets call him 'Bob', were spending the weekend with my son living in lean to's by the bank of a stream in this forestry. We had spent a nice day and night in the campsite which was well off the beaten track and had spent the day roving and filling our bellies with all sorts of loveliness we had brought with us. All day we had noticed a landrover lurking around the tracks, but presumed it was from the shooting estate next door. Around dusk we heard the landrover return, crawling around the tracks on tickover. Followed by the unmistakable crack of a high powered rifle and another one, and another etc. etc.

Landrover blokes were on the track uphill of our position firing down towards us, we were in a sheltered hollow with about 200m of very dense forestry block between us and them, so fairly safe but pretty ****** off. No mobile signal so no calling the police, so what do we do? The land is strictly no hunting of any kind and the managers don't let any shooting take place either (it's leased from the church), come to think of it the only vehicles they allow are their own wardens and the emergency services.

We calmly but swiftly packed kit and prepared to bug out down the stream course (providing best cover from fire), but first leaving the son (who was pretty shaken) with 'bob' (who is military). I stalked around to the track to get the reg plate of the landrover (and see if I could get signal). Sure enough it was the landrover from earlier with a couple of lads in their twenties, drinking beer and shooting at sheep with a pair of hunting rifles from the landrover. One was firing from the passenger seat while the driver would sit out of the driver's side door and fire from over the roof. I couldn't get signal but got some good photos of their faces, their rifles (Browning A bolt according to the police) and their number plates as well as 45 seconds of video of them firing and killing sheep. When I returned to the camp we had a quick conflab, and bugged out along the stream. However after about 500m down the hill along the stream, we heard the rather worrying sound of them getting closer and the crack of rounds passing overhead (the stream bed was bit like a trench so they would have had to stand about 5m looking down at us to get any nearer). I'll be honest we both had the bows off the packs and arrows knocked as we made our way to the car, my son had finally twigged that it was perhaps more serious than we had indicated. If it had been just me and 'bob' we might have tackled them, we were so angry. But a 9 year old has to take priority over temper.

Handed photo and video to the police, land owner and the farmer who had lost 18 of his sheep and several more missing. Police traced the landrover to a farm about 50miles away but the owner was not one of the two shooting. The two men were arrested and had their FACs revoked and guns taken by police. However they got suspended sentences for aggravated criminal damage and banned from holding any guns in future. They also asked for various other sentences from burglary to possession of class A drugs to be dealt with at the same time. They had to pay a load of charges and damages plus a fine for driving without insurance. They had denied everything until the police showed them the photos and video.

The police were brilliant and didn't seem to mind we still had our knives on our belts while when we rolled into the cop shop to make our report. They were very interested in what we were doing and had a go with the bows when we walked them around the wood later (now minus young 'un). We see one of the policemen around the area quite often. He has even stayed for supper with us at our campsite.

Fingle
 

Fingle

Member
Oct 2, 2008
14
0
Wolverhampton
No, suspended sentences and one of them is appealing the gun ban to be allowed to keep shotguns for work on his farm. The fines, plus damages and costs were massive. Because they changed their plea at court we (police, me, Bob, farmer, landlord) did not even get to give evidence. Which was the reason they changed their plea on legal advise. Only the firearms sergeant made a report about them having their guns taken. I feel they got away very light, if they had been lads the same age from the city they would be in prison. However I am wary of diverting this excellent thread into the rights and wrongs of the criminal system.

Fingle
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,120
68
Florida
It sounds as if thet didn't know there were people in the area (or at least they weren't deliberately trying to shoot at (kill/injure) people so I can see where attempted murder would have been difficult to persue as a charge. I'm with Southey though in thinking at least armed tresspass would have been appropriate (and possibly some type of charge for "endangerment" or a UK equivalent as they should have taken into consideration that people "might" be about. I'm certainly glad they lost their firearms priveledges (that coming from a rabidly pro-gun American) and faced "massive" fines.

I don't know enough about your legal system there but is it possible for you to file a civil lawsuit against them for the anguish you suffered?
 

darrenleroy

Nomad
Jul 15, 2007
351
0
51
London
Fascinating case, Fingle. I'm sorry your son had to witness this. I would have been scared.

You mentioned one of the men worked on a farm or was a farmer. What kind of farmer would go and kill another farmer's sheep? That's just sick. I could almost understand (although never excuse) a lout from the city doing something like that but a farmer (or farmworker) doing it seems reprehensible. I wonder if the farming community have done anything about these two? Do you know?
 

darrenleroy

Nomad
Jul 15, 2007
351
0
51
London
I feel a bit anti social reading that. I like going out with the lads, but I also like just being there alone, like I did until very dark o clock yesterday.

Great feeling just crouching down and listening to the sounds of the forest, pitch black all around you, knowing you're probably the only human for a few miles at least.

I wish I had the bottle to go out on my own but my mind runs away with me. I am a scaredy cat with an active imagination. The annoying thing is I sometimes wish my mates would shut up so I could enjoy the sounds of nature but I'd be too afraid if I was on my own. Sad really.
 

BillyBlade

Settler
Jul 27, 2011
748
3
Lanarkshire
I wish I had the bottle to go out on my own but my mind runs away with me. I am a scaredy cat with an active imagination. The annoying thing is I sometimes wish my mates would shut up so I could enjoy the sounds of nature but I'd be too afraid if I was on my own. Sad really.

Not about bottle I dont think mate, it's more about conditioning really. No need to be so hard on yourself.

Your a city lad, you're used to lights around you and noise pollution. I doubt you even notice it's there, your mind just tunes it out.

I grew up in a small town, the woods just a 15 minute walk away. I spent many happy hours in them alone as a kid, and then as a teenager. I'm used to them. By the same token, big cities tire me, and London, well it tires me most of all.

I noticed it when I joined up, that the city lads really had a hard time getting used to Dartmoor etc, whereas us yokels took to the place in a ready fashion.

Best thing to do is hook up with someone from here local to you, and do a dual overnighter or two. Then, when you feel ready, both of you go along, but he comes back home leaving you out there.

You'll wake up in the morning and realise, job done :D
 

pauljm116

Native
May 6, 2011
1,456
5
Rainham, Kent
I wish I had the bottle to go out on my own but my mind runs away with me. I am a scaredy cat with an active imagination. The annoying thing is I sometimes wish my mates would shut up so I could enjoy the sounds of nature but I'd be too afraid if I was on my own. Sad really.

I used to think that too, so would only got out with friends until a mate let me down at the last minute and I decided to go all the same. I must admit that the first night in darkness was a bit scary with foxes screaming and deer running about in the dark, but after that your brain tells you that the noises are just nature doing its thing and the only scary thing in those woods is a bloke in a hammock with knives and an axe, which would be me.

After a few nights alone in the woods my imagination was still running wild but the rational part of my brain could explain all the noises and I now like going for walks in the dark. My advice is to get out there and enjoy the noises of nature at night, it helps to keep a knife and torch handy just to reassure yourself. I usually go solo camping now as I can get much closer to nature and enjoy the peace and quiet.
 

Johnnyboy1971

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Dec 24, 2010
4,155
26
53
Yorkshire
Pauljm116.
Just read your last comment about having a knife and torch ready. I spend days by myself fishing all night and never get bothered about being on my own. As soon as i camp alone i feel different, i decided notvto take any sharps with me one time and for some reason felt totaly relaxed.

I fish and camp in the same place in the same woods. The only thing i can putnit down to is mind games. If i had a knife i could do this that and the other. If i dont have a knife the thought never goes through my head.

The place i go is visited by dog walkers and is 500yds from a main road so there is always some noise. I have been places where there is no noise whatsoever other than nature. The same thing applies to the knife carrying. If i have one im on edge if i havent im relaxed.
 

Bushscout

Member
Jan 14, 2012
10
0
Cental UK
In answer to the question - how do I know my stalker isn't on here watching and listening to my posts.. - I dont. What I do know is that not only is he being tracked by me, but he is also being tracked by a number of my friends, one of whom has extensive military experience as a pro tracker.

One of the things which being the victim (I prefer the term survivor) of a stalker does is raise your sense of awareness, which in some ways is good and some ways bad. Good because you are perpetually mindful. Bad because it can be exhausting. The way to cope is to have a periodic safe bolthole, where you can take a break.

We have built a complex profile of the stalker, his habits, his likes and where his comfort zone is. This is a very peculiar man who seems to have deeply set patterns of behaviour. On the surface he appears to be very clever and yet he lacks imagination. He is an opportunist and his behaviour though predatory lacks the cunning that I have seen in wild animals. He is continuously making mistakes which will ultimately allow us to entrap him.

The thing to remember when dealing with anything which you might fear in the dark is to keep your perspective. Humans have big feet, few have the skill to move as silently as an Apache Scout, so anything which you might fear in the woods is likely to be your size and will likely crash around without a torch. In such a situation darkness is your ally - use it.
 

darrenleroy

Nomad
Jul 15, 2007
351
0
51
London
In answer to the question - how do I know my stalker isn't on here watching and listening to my posts.. - I dont. What I do know is that not only is he being tracked by me, but he is also being tracked by a number of my friends, one of whom has extensive military experience as a pro tracker.

One of the things which being the victim (I prefer the term survivor) of a stalker does is raise your sense of awareness, which in some ways is good and some ways bad. Good because you are perpetually mindful. Bad because it can be exhausting. The way to cope is to have a periodic safe bolthole, where you can take a break.

We have built a complex profile of the stalker, his habits, his likes and where his comfort zone is. This is a very peculiar man who seems to have deeply set patterns of behaviour. On the surface he appears to be very clever and yet he lacks imagination. He is an opportunist and his behaviour though predatory lacks the cunning that I have seen in wild animals. He is continuously making mistakes which will ultimately allow us to entrap him.

The thing to remember when dealing with anything which you might fear in the dark is to keep your perspective. Humans have big feet, few have the skill to move as silently as an Apache Scout, so anything which you might fear in the woods is likely to be your size and will likely crash around without a torch. In such a situation darkness is your ally - use it.

I don't mean to cast aspersions but this also sounds very weird. Why don't you just confront him and tell him to eff off, or get a restraining order? Surely the cameras would have caught him if they are working properly. It's beyond my comprehension to think this sort of thing can go on. It's like something from a Hollywood film. Bizarre.
 

capt.dunc

Forager
Oct 11, 2011
100
0
dundee
and back to the topic; you can go out with a mate for an overnight but each set up a camp and fire a few hundred yards apart, this way you know there's someone near and you can pop back and forth to chat. you can increase the distance over time and the time between visits to each other's camps. you'll become more used to people approaching your fire in the dark without warning, it's not quite the same when your mate leaves to "visit nature" since you've got a time frame for their return.
 

BillyBlade

Settler
Jul 27, 2011
748
3
Lanarkshire
I'm trying to figure out what sort of mental condition is going on here.

My bet is some sort of masochist. No police involvment nor reporting to the proper authorities, which would be any sensible persons first step.

If someone gets hurt somewhere alone the line in this little game, and the whole months long story stars to come out, the CPS will most likely take a very different view on it than if it had been reported as stalking - with which there are excellent laws now - right from the start. I got that from a lawyer friend I had a few beers with last night and to whom I was relaying this story back to. His feelings are it's starting to sound, from what I could remember to tell him that I'd read on here, like consensual adult behaviour. Normal people will go to the police with the evidence they have captured. Not jump on a public access forum, bang on about being a Krav Maga hardnut and getting the mates around, and have it in cyberspace for the rest of eternity.

So the game is now 'upped' in getting a military tracker involved. Then he shall make another move no doubt.

Sorry, but something just very much 'off' with it all I feel.
 

darrenleroy

Nomad
Jul 15, 2007
351
0
51
London
and back to the topic; you can go out with a mate for an overnight but each set up a camp and fire a few hundred yards apart, this way you know there's someone near and you can pop back and forth to chat. you can increase the distance over time and the time between visits to each other's camps. you'll become more used to people approaching your fire in the dark without warning, it's not quite the same when your mate leaves to "visit nature" since you've got a time frame for their return.

My problem is that I think of safety in numbers. I have wild camped with just two of us on several occasions but was slightly nervous. If it was just me all the weird stories alone in this thread would drive me to a sleepless, paranoid night, let alone the ghost and horror stories I've watched over the years. Sh*t I struggled to sleep soundly in my own bed the other night after re-reading the posts on here.

If there's only two of you and one of you is killed (I know, I know, it's ridiculous) then there's only you left to fight the attackers. I am aware this is entirely irrational because the chances of it happening are extremely low but that is not the problem. It is more a case of my own personal emotional fears projecting themselves onto this situation. I hate flying and I don't like enclosed spaces either, so camping alone in an underground cave would just about do me in! I'm just a nervous individual. I think I need to see a shrink!
 

Bushscout

Member
Jan 14, 2012
10
0
Cental UK
Im no hardnut..

There is the protection from harassment law 1995, and yes, everything is reported to the police.
There is no forensic evidence and the biggest porblem I have is that I live on a boat. on a public right of way.

My solicitor has advised me that we cant get an order without proper evidence.

Military tracking experience - Special Forces.

I only did KM for self defence.

It is very peculiar, a little like Pistachio man, like a ghost- but he is there...

Dont insult my intelligence.
 

JonathanD

Ophiological Genius
Sep 3, 2004
12,815
1,511
Stourton,UK
You need to get one of these...

DSC_6589.jpg


Let it loose on your boat and any intruders will be given the good news quite quickly. Anyone questions what it is doing loose on your boat and you obviously have the proof that it was performing maintenance, which is obviously an ongoing thing on a boat.

End result, he won't be back. Well not in corporeal form anyway.
 

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