Frightening Encounter.

Hope you will be reporting this to the police ladymuck. What a dreadful experience.

I'm so sorry this happened to you.
Something similar happened to me a few years ago, and then recently, when I was minding my own business just out and about on a familiar route.

It knocked my confidence and really frightened me.

IF you have a moment, consider phoning the police on 101 especially if you have a time and description.

Likelihood is, unfortunately, if he can do this to a complete stranger then his anger hurts others too. Make sure you get an incident number.

It's important, as you don't know if it has happened before. I used to walk on a towpath too and sometimes the police, alough stretched badly as it is, put a visible presence in for a while and divert officers, which makes people feel safer. Especially if is a route where people think they can't be seen or heard and therefore feel free to deliver any insulting and firghtenign things they see fit.

Unacceptable behaviour and once again sorry you experienced this

all best
painting

Oh my goodness, that's awful! I'm sorry, you must feel really shaken up.

I think you should report it to the police, really. He may have been doing this to others and your account could be helpful.

How scary. What a dangerous individual!
I hope the police catch him.
There could be no dog at all and it may have just an excuse to initiate conversation.

That's very frightening and unpleasant. I hope you reported it to the police. Perhaps the man was drunk or on drugs.

So sorry you had such an awful experience, I’ve always been wary of walking along the towpath on our local canal it has long stretches between access points and there is no where to run to if in difficulty.
I agree with the others maybe you should just inform the police.

Gosh. Scary. I hope you're feeling a bit better now. Something like that is bound to shake you up a bit.
The others are right. The Police need to know about this man. There may be a pattern of reports concerning him so it could be really useful.

ladymuck - that was a horrid encounter and I'm sorry you were the subject of this man's ire. Please do report it to the police because they need the help of the public in detecting patterns of behaviour. Even if he hasn't done it in the past this man may well do it again in the future.

I hope you are quickly able to put this behind you.

So sorry you had this experience. Please, please report it. You may save some other person the same experience.

Thank you all for your sympathy. I have reported it now. As you say, although I was unharmed on this occasion, someone else might not be so fortunate.

That is truly horrible. So sorry that you encountered such a dreadful person.

Sounds like he was either drunk or mentally ill. Whatever the reason I hope you have reported it, he could hurt someone else.

So sorry to hear this happened to you, and am very glad you are safe. I don't believe there was a dog either, I think he was as others said either drunk or mentally ill and wanted to hurt someone today. Glad you have reported it.

You are brave for reporting it!

Reporting was the right thing to do. Hope you soon get over it, sounds like he may have a mental health issue. Not that's any comfort to you.