10:31am Wednesday 12th September 2007
By Nicola Fenn
A WOMAN enjoying a morning walk with her dogs was horrified when a naked man appeared in front of her in Belfairs Woods.
Jenny Bird, 46, of Abotts Close, Leigh, was walking her four dogs in the woods when they started barking and acting strangely.
As she turned around to see what was bothering the dogs, Mrs Bird was confronted by a totally naked man about 30 metres away and walking towards her.
She said: "After a few seconds of horror and the initial shock I decided to shout loudly for help, hoping for some golfers or fellow dog walkers to hear me.
"The same man exposed himself to my friend just before Christmas last year and a groundsman told me I was the fourth person to complain this year.
"It's atrocious behaviour and I'm really worried now the kids are back at school."
As Mrs Bird shouted for help, the man walked behind a tree, put his clothes back on, picked up his bicycle and disappeared into the thicket.
She said: "I ran around telling everyone I could find but what was worrying was that most of the women I spoke to didn't have their mobile phone with them.
"I went back to the woods the next day with my phone hoping he would show up, because what he did made me so angry.
"I want to tell people not to run away, but to ring the police. It's the only way it's going to stop."
Insp David Colwell, of Leigh Police, said there had been extensive operations in Belfairs Woods in the past for similar types of crimes.
He said: "We take this offence very, very seriously. There are regular patrols, both on foot and on bicycle through the woods.
"Unfortunately, the woods is an extensive area to cover, so I would encourage people to call 999 and report it as soon as possible.
"The sooner we hear about these incidents, the better."
The man is described as in his thirties, and muscular.
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