Man exposed himself to woman and tried to pull her into his van

A WOMAN has spoken of her shock at being followed by a flasher who tried to pull her into his van in Fordingbridge.

The incident took place around 4pm yesterday (Thursday) as the local victim, who is in her 20s, was walking home from work.

Sharing her ordeal on Facebook, she said the offender twice stopped the large white Ford Transit van near her before exposing himself. She also alleged that he tried to grab her and pull her into the vehicle when he stopped the second time.

“I ran as fast as I could and finally thought I was away from him until I got onto Whitsbury Road and he pulled up and tried again,” the victim wrote.

“Luckily I got into my house before he could get to me.”

Warning people to be extra vigilant, the woman also expressed concern that the incident had taken place around the time pupils would have been leaving the nearby Fordingbridge infant and junior schools.

“It’s left me in complete shock and being around school time and not far from the school left me worried as hell for anyone else,” she added.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident, and people are urged to come forward if they may have witnessed any suspicious activity.

A spokesperson for the Hampshire force said: “It was reported that a man in a white van driving in Whitsbury Road approached a woman and exposed himself to her.

“Local neighbourhoods officers have been made aware of this incident.”

The offender has been described as mixed race, aged in his 30s, wearing a black top which had a blue emblem on the left of the chest.

Anyone with information should contact Hampshire police on 101, quoting crime reference number 44190344452, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.