North Brisbane women scared of Kedron Brook bikeway stalker

Brisbane women are sharing stories of being terrorised by the same man along a popular north side bikeway, but say police can’t do anything unless he actually assaults or hurts someone.

A group of north Brisbane women have spoken out about being stalked by a ‘creepy man’ on a popular bikeway, but say police can’t do anything unless it gets much more sinister.

One woman shared her encounter with the man to a local Facebook community group when he stalked her on her morning run at the Kedron Brook bikeway, Sunday, July 10, around 6.30am.

She described him as a ‘dark skinned man’, possibly in his 40s, on a bike riding fairly slowly wearing casual jeans/clothes, and no helmet.

“I thought it was odd and he stared at me as I ran past in a way that gave me a sick feeling,” she said.

She said he followed her and another lady into a Woolworth’s service station and started yelling at them. They then called police who attended and said the man was well known to them.

The woman said after sharing her story she had more than 10 other women reach out to her describing similar encounters on the bikeway with the same man.

“I feel so angry. I used running for both physical and mental benefits. It was my time, something I did for myself and now that has been tainted and I don’t feel safe,” she said.

“It’s frustrating to now have to change my behaviour and life to avoid coming into contact with him again.

“The police said they will increase patrols but until he does anything more sinister all they can do is talk to him and try to scare him or let him know they are keeping an eye out.

“You think with multiple of the same reports they could build a case to do something more. It is concerning that it takes something horrible to happen to do something.

“Children also use that path. A 17-year-old girl messaged me and said he followed her behind Hillbrook (on the same track).”

A second woman said the same man harassed her over a year ago when she was running along the Kedron Brook walkway.

Lots of people exercising along the Kedron Brook Bikeway, Lutwyche. Picture: Liam Kidston

“He kept turning around and looking at me, slowing down so I’d be right behind him. He was making very strange faces at me and it made me feel immediately uncomfortable,” she said.

“I haven’t run in the early morning by myself since then and it was over a year ago. It’s terrible this keeps happening to women and though he hasn’t yet raped or assaulted (that we know of) it’s terrible to think we have to wait for something like this to happen before something can be done.

“It’s really awful … I love running and morning runs are a great way to start the day for me but now that I no longer feel comfortable doing that it’s really sad.

“I now have to plan my runs later in the day which isn’t always doable with my schedule. I’ve changed my route a few times to include more street running but it’s a shame as I love the Kedron brook.”

A few months ago another woman said the man allegedly touched her without her permission.

“He rode by me and did the same thing, then circled back around and on the way past again I felt something brush my bum … at first I thought he may have just rode too close to me but then he looked back at me and had this sinister look in his eyes,” she said.

“It was in the middle of the day or at least midmorning. There was a family close by and he rode past them and also gave the woman a good stare down despite her being with her husband.

“I think if I decide to walk there again I’ll do it when I know it’s busy, like a Sunday lunch time, or I’ll change walking routes but I shouldn’t really have to.”

Police have been contacted for comment.