A WOMAN has urged the public to “be more vigilant” after she was followed by an unknown man in Blackmoor Wood.

Sarah Stewart-Knibbs of Bordon was walking her dog in the woods off Drift Road, taking a “pit stop” for her pet after shopping with her mother.

Sarah said: “I have been there three times in the last month. It was for the dog to run around.

“As I came round, I looked at him and I just knew instantly that this was terribly wrong.

“All he did was put his foot on the dogs ball and he just stared.

“I was very fortunate that there was a path leading up to the road.

“I ran up that path and I called the dog – and I think because of the urgency in my voice, and because I was running, the dog came back.

“This man followed me around and up the path, I grabbed the dog and I just ran.

“We went over the road into Blackmoor House, and I waited in the driveway because there are very few houses there.”

She said the man then “stood opposite staring” at her, while she was “completely petrified”.

She then returned to her car where she told her mother of the incident, raising concern over the man’s proximity to St Matthew’s School.

Sarah’s story was also shared by her husband Anthony on social media, with comments on the post asking how this could happen in the town, and drawing similarities to incidents in Passfield and Bramshott.

One commented: “Oh god, what is going on here in Bordon?

“Can’t even walk the dog – we aren’t living in the inner cities, or is this is what it is coming to? I do hope your wife is OK.”

Whitehill Town Council leader, Andy Tree, added: “Given what has recently happened nationally with the murder of Sarah Everard, this is totally unacceptable behaviour from anyone.

“As a father of two young daughters, I am very concerned about any local instances of this nature and totally encourage all such experiences to be reported to the police. As I now meet local police monthly, these are issues I can raise.”

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: “We were called at 1.18pm on March 13 to a suspicious incident on Drift Road. It was reported a woman walking her dog had been approached by an unknown man who picked up her dog’s ball.

“She then ran away and the man appears to have followed for a short time.

“Anyone with information can phone 101 with reference 44210092637.”