The apparent return of North Somerset's notorious Gimp Man has sparked quite a reaction from Bristol Live readers.
The disturbing individual scared a young couple returning home in Yatton in the early hours of Sunday morning after a night out in Bristol, by appearing from the shadows dressed in a full body latex or rubber Gimp suit, completely masked, and walking towards them.
Police are investigating links between the incident on Saturday night and at least 14 previous remarkably similar incidents at the end of 2018 and the first half of 2019, which left people living in villages from Claverham to Yatton scared to go out at night.
Read more: Police hunt after man in full latex 'gimp' suit is back terrifying people
Two men were arrested and questioned in July 2019 and the sightings and police reports stopped, but now there are fears that the Gimp Man has returned.
Almost 60 people commented on the story yesterday on Bristol Live's website, and more than 830 people commented under the story on the Bristol Live Facebook page.
Of the 60 comments online, none are printable, and of the 830 comments, half have been deleted automatically by Facebook. Of the remainder, almost all are people tagging their friends accusing them of being the Gimp Man, but several were printable.
Nick Williams said: "You'd either burst out laughing or knock him out lol, obviously the first option lol! Seriously though, it's easy to see how it would frighten some people so with that in mind, it shouldn't really be allowed, keep your fetishism to yourself or with people who enjoy it, not the general public."
Khloe Dessy wrote: "American horror story pops into mind when I see this."
And Spud2019 wrote: "Scary - I can understand people being frightened by him but he could have severe mental health problems but yes hopefully the police find out who it is and help put people's minds at rest."
A number of people questioned whether it was against the law. Jay Staynings wrote: "Is it against the law tho ?? Can’t see how? I get it’s scary to the young." Chris Rodgers responded: "As his behaviour is intimidating as well then he may have committed an offence. A masked man in the dark coming face to face with me is threatening behaviour in my book (going masked at night is not normal or necessary), but I guess it would take a court to decide categorically."
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