FairyNormal   10 #1 Posted June 11, 2005 I really hope people won't hijack this and turn it into a massive racist thread as that is NOT what this is about. [/end rant}  Today, and not for the first time, I was approached by a man whilst sat in the Peace Gardens with my kids. Now I'm not too hot on individuals nationalities but he was dark haired and olive skinned. (Maybe Turkish, Arabian, Iranian etc) These males seems to hang around in groups, usually around the Peace Gardens or on Fargate. They're smartly dressed and polite but extremely annoying.  The first guy kept smiling at me. I avoided his gaze and kept an eye on the kids. Eventually, he came over and asked how I was and could he have my phone number. I said a polite no and he left. He continued to look over at me, as did his group of friends.  About 10 minutes later, one of his friends re-appeared with a box of ice lollies and shouted my son over to him. He tried to give him a lolly to which I said No. He then came over and gav ethe lollie sto my son so we stood up to leave and left them on the wall. We left the Peace Gardens and set off walking to the Moor. The man with the lollies then followed us, walking right next to us. I ignored him but he came up and asked my son what his name was. I told him to ignore him and keep walking. He then asked if I had a name and could he have my number. Again I said a polite no and carried on walking. Eventually he gave up and left us alone.  Now I am big enough and ugly enough to look after myself but what really bothers me is how they constantly try it on with young girls. My own daughter who is 15 has been approached numerous times, even when she is with me and sometimes by men who are clearly in their 30's or older.  A lot of these men are very smartly dressed, very polite and reasonably good looking. Young girl love the attention they get and seem to me to be easy targets for them. I really do worry as it seems to be happening all the time. I saw individual from the group who were chatting me up approach numerous young teenage girls whilst I was sat there. They don't seem to care how young they are.  Has anyone else noticed this happening or been hassled themselves? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Strix   11 #2 Posted June 11, 2005  Why does that conjure up pictures of prostitution rings?  Scary  Did you report this to the police? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
sheff_minx   10 #3 Posted June 11, 2005 That is terrible! Especially as they were trying to coax your kids!  I've been apprached by a few of these men, not so much in Sheffield but definately since I was about 14 in Manchester. I just ignore them and duck into the nearest shop, or try and lose them in a crowd of people. Its intimidating when on my own though I must admit.  Sends a shiver down my spine thinking about the younger girls they approach... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
kblade   10 #4 Posted June 11, 2005 Oh my god thats frightening!! Maybe you could at least inform the police on 2202020. I know its hardly a crime but maybe they could perhaps check CCTV or something It seems very odd behaviour Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
madowl   10 #5 Posted June 11, 2005 Someone like that approached my eldest daughter afew mths ago, i was meeting her out side dixons on fargate, she told me this man was bugging her etc, when we were walking to wards the city hall he came over to her again and i did what everyother father would do, i grabed him by his neck and nealy pushed him through a shop window and told him to f*** off or im gonna f****** k** you, plus a few other other words. creaps. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Strix   11 #6 Posted June 11, 2005 Originally posted by madowl i grabed him by his neck and nealy pushed him through a shop window and told him to f*** off or im gonna f****** k** you, plus a few other other words. creaps.  only way to deal with them Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
sheff_minx   10 #7 Posted June 11, 2005 Just out of interest, could the police actually do anything about these men?? Or will they just say they're powerless, and then do people like madowl for protecting their families when the law can't? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Kthebean   10 #8 Posted June 11, 2005 Again, whatever nationality they are, whenever there are creepy men about the only way to cope with them is to shout "MACKEREL, MAKEREL" at them whilst flapping your arms and jumping round in circles.  That will put them off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Lestat   10 #9 Posted June 11, 2005 Unfortunately this kind of thing is getting more and more common in Sheffield. It's mainly the refugee's and illegal immigrants who have absolutely no tact whatsoever and will try it on with anything that has a pulse.  They do hang around Fargate and the Peace Gardens and annoy the f**king hell out of people - especially young girls.  I don't know what it is with these overgrown idiots, they think that tacky stuff like giving a lolly to a mum will make her want to give out her number or have sex with them or something.  They all seem to be at it - you can usually notice them, they have 1980's clothes fashion and haircuts like real slimeballs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
noseyrosie   10 #10 Posted June 11, 2005 Cripes! Haven't encountered anything like this, but as a young lady (well....the lady part is questionable) who is often walking through there I'll have to keep my eyes peeled.  I would recommend, on future problems, you talk to one of the Peace Gardens security guys, I know one of them and one is a forum member! The 'City Centre Ambassadors' in the official looking fleeces Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
noseyrosie   10 #11 Posted June 11, 2005 Originally posted by Lestat Unfortunately this kind of thing is getting more and more common in Sheffield. It's mainly the refugee's and illegal immigrants who have absolutely no tact whatsoever and will try it on with anything that has a pulse.  They do hang around Fargate and the Peace Gardens and annoy the f**king hell out of people - especially young girls.  I don't know what it is with these overgrown idiots, they think that tacky stuff like giving a lolly to a mum will make her want to give out her number or have sex with them or something.  They all seem to be at it - you can usually notice them, they have 1980's clothes fashion and haircuts like real slimeballs.  As long as there's no alterior motive in terms of prejudice here (and I'm not implying that there is, but it's nice that the racist brigade have died down for the moment and I sincerely hope all that BNP stuff doesn't start up again), I'm willing to agree with some of that. It's not that they're specifically refugees or illegal immigrants* (once again I shall go for the 'how the hell can you tell?!' stance) but if someone has recently come to the country is likely to have less tact or knowledge of British customs/ways that we treat women. The courtesy that we take for granted may be something they have no concept of.   *Two completely different things by the way, not to be confused! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
bellis   10 #12 Posted June 11, 2005 Originally posted by noseyrosie Cripes! Haven't encountered anything like this, but as a young lady (well....the lady part is questionable) who is often walking through there I'll have to keep my eyes peeled.  I would recommend, on future problems, you talk to one of the Peace Gardens security guys, I know one of them and one is a forum member! The 'City Centre Ambassadors' in the official looking fleeces  ive spoken to one of them and he told me as long as they where not doing anything illegal nothing could be done  he also told me the police keep an eye on them from time to time but even they cant really do much as they may be accused of been racist Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...