Man reportedly 'chasing girls with a knife' in Reading...

A council member has issued a warning to residents of West Reading neighbourhoods about a guy who is allegedly

“chasing girls with a knife.”

A man has been ‘following girls’ and was spotted with a knife, according to a social media report.

According to other accounts, a male has been observed pursuing girls in the Calcot, Prospect Park, and Tilehurst

neighbourhoods.

A neighbour and his partner allegedly harassed the suspect in the Oxford Road neighbourhood, according to a public

Facebook post.

Additionally, the post reports that at approximately 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, Thames Valley Police arrested

the suspect in Belmont Road, West Reading.

However, concerns remain that the man has been released by police on bail.

“It is horrifying,” a neighbour remarked. He was following girls in Prospect Park after the cops released him from

custody on Thursday.

Because of this, I’m not letting my two girls go out by themselves.

“Will it take a murder to actually lock him up???!!” He has now made a lot of girls afraid.

Community pages have shared the Facebook post that said the man was detained.

The Conservative councillor for Tilehurst Birch Copse, Joanne Stewart, has advised anyone who spots the man to

stay away from him and to use 101 or 999 in case of an emergency.

A representative for Thames Valley Police has accepted the incident and been contacted for a response.

Cllr Stewart has urged people not to take the law into their own hands, but to report any sighting of the man to the police.

She said: “I’ve tried to speak to the police, I’ve emailed as well, but no one has come back to me.

“I’ve had a couple of concerned residents, I’m a member of those groups as a councillor. I’ve been watching what’s

been unfolding over the last few years.

“I felt the need to remind people they seemed to be getting in a bit of a frenzy, I didn’t want people taking the law

into their own hands.

“I’ve been watching it happen, people shouldn’t take action – they should contact the police.”

Cllr Stewart has also urged for calm and for the incident not to develop into ‘a witch hunt’.

“People don’t want it to become a witch hunt, social media is a useful tool, but it can be dangerous at the same time.

“There is someone involved who is obviously in need of assistance, and I sincerely hope that someone is providing

that person with it. Additionally, I have requested that Tilehurst Parish Council get in touch with the police.

Reading Borough Council has been asked for a response after King’s Academy Prospect notified its safeguarding team.

“I understand how concerning reports of these incidents are for local residents,” stated Olivia Bailey, the Labour MP

for Reading West and Mid Berkshire.

Thames Valley Police have promised to keep me informed when I spoke with them about the problem.

“In the meantime, I would urge anyone who has any concerns relating to this incident, or about any threatening or

criminal behaviour, to get in touch with the police.”

Man reportedly ‘chasing girls with a knife’ in Reading