‘Wild panther’ loose in garden (From This Is Local London)

‘Wild panther’ loose in garden

10:52am Tuesday 6th August 2002

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A "terrifying" big cat is loose in Northumberland Heath, Bexley, claims a worried dad.

Stuart Campbell, 34, has been woken twice by the mysterious feline scratching at the bedroom window of his Mill Road home, in the early hours of July 20 and August 1.

The father-of-three contacted police and the RSPCA but he says neither took him seriously..

His claim is backed by his brother-in-law who says he saw the jet-black intruder with "shining eyes", in the back garden from a window, last week, in a second terrifying incident.

Mr Campbell said: "It's absolutely terrifying and I'm afraid of what it could do. This is no pet cat. I have seen it and it's bigger than a normal child. It is like a panther or a puma.

"I hadn't been drinking and I don't take drugs or anything like that. I just can't make people believe what I'm saying."

An RSPCA spokesman said: "We do get these reports quite regularly and we would never say anyone was lying.

"Our inspectors have never seen one of these cats and, even if we did send someone out, it's not likely it would still be there.

"We would advise anyone who sees a big cat not to approach it themselves and to protect any pets or livestock they may have."

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