A 19-YEAR-OLD woman has told how she was confronted by a sex pest in the family-friendly Hockley Woods.

She heard the pervert shouting at her before she spotted him with his trousers down, 15 feet from the main path on Monday.

The woman, who lives in Rayleigh, said: “It was disgusting.

“I go there all the time to walk my dogs and I’ve never had any problems, but I don’t think I’ll be going back anytime soon.

“I originally heard a deep, threatening voice coming from further in the woods, but as I walked further, I could see him clearly standing there.

“As I got closer, he was blatantly performing a sex act.

“He was slightly off the path, he wasn’t even hidden, there were trees but he was standing in the middle of them all. I ran as fast as I could, I just wanted to get away.”

The eyewitness added she was really concerned that it might happen again and was thankful her dogs were on the lead and she was able to get away. She added: “He was on the main path, he was pretty much in the open. You could tell he knew what he was doing and deliberately wasn’t trying to be discreet, but he was wearing dark clothes which covered his face so he couldn’t be identified. As I ran away out of the woods, there was so many children in the park nearby.

“I was warning everyone who was there not to go down where I’d been.

“There was one lady who said that this has been happening a few times.

“I’m just glad that it was me rather than a really young child.”

Social media was in uproar afterwards, with regular woods walkers commenting: “How awful and disgusting.”

Others posted: “I like going there with my children and dogs, I’ve always felt safe.

“I’m not sure I do now.”

A spokesperson from Essex Police, said: “We were called at a bout 2.55pmon Monday, June 17, with reports of a man acting suspiciously in Hockley Woods.

“A woman reported that the man had indecently exposed himself while acting inappropriately.

“The man was described as being white and wore a dark cap and had his face covered.

“We attended and searched the area but were unable to locate the man described.

Anyone with information is asked to call Rayleigh police station on 101 quoting crime reference 42/95306/19 or alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.