An Ayr woman has told of the terrifying moment she had to flee from a hooded up creep who tormented her like a game of 'cat and mouse'.
Sophie Steele, 28, had to escape from the River Ayr walkway near to Ayr UWS campus after being preyed on by a man described in his 20s, while out walking her dogs on Wednesday morning.
Sophie has told Ayrshire Live: "I was terrified, really upset and shaken by it.
"I've never experienced anything like that before. I use that walk everyday.
"I was so worried about what his intentions were."
Sophie took to Facebook to warn others after the shocking incident.
She said: "I went out about 6.10am and as I got onto the river Ayr walk from Craigie House, leading towards the university, I looked behind me and there was someone in a dark navy tracksuit with their hood up tight around their face running right towards me.
"As I turned round the person stopped dead in their tracks and didn’t move, just stared at me. Thinking it was a bit strange I kept walking quicker than I was before.
"The person followed, speeding up with me, and as I could hear them getting closer to me I turned round again, and again they stopped dead in their tracks just staring at me.
"I sped up again, and again they followed. I had managed to get a bit of distance between us this time, and when I turned around, yet again the same thing had happened."
Sophie who was really 'creeped out' desperately called her partner Martyn to tell him what had happened and to come and get her from their home just two minutes away.
She said: "He was just staring right at me, not breaking the stare.
"He then stood up square on to me, again just staring and not moving. His arms were out as if he was 'square going' me."
A panicked Sophie has told how she had to make a decision on what way to go with the path leading to a wooded area where no one would see her, and she feared the man could have cut through the other side of the university had she opted to take that route.
Instead she raced through the university's oriental gardens from the walkway to the car park.
She added: "The way they were tormenting me like it was a game of cat and mouse."
Sophie wants other walkers in the area to be aware, and has urged them to always have just one earphone in to hear if anyone else is coming up from behind.
The hooded creep has been described as around 5ft 7/ 8, slim build, white and wearing a dark navy tracksuit with a grey pinstripe down each arm and each leg.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 6.55 am on Wednesday, September 7, police received a report from a woman concerned about the behaviour of man on the river path at Craigie Walk, Ayr and enquiries are continuing."
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