Whipping Tom

In 1681 lone women were afraid to walk around in London, England. Women began to start carrying weapons like penknives and scissors to protect themselves. A man would wait for his victim alleys. He would wait for a lone woman to pass by before he would quickly come up behind her. He would lift up her dress bend her over his knee and spank her with either a rod or his hand. Sometimes he would scream "Spanko!" and run off. He would vanish just as fast as he appeared.

Local men would question whether or not the policing in the area were doing their job. Many vigilantes would dress in women's clothing and walk around alone in hope of the serial spanker attacking.

There may have been another serial spanker in 1672 as one article mentions that another serial whipster was operating. It's unknown if this serial spanker was caught or if they thought it was the same man. In 1712 copycat had operated in the area. He was caught though and had done it because he was hurt by a woman.


SOURCES:
http://theunexplainedmysteries.com/2017/06/11/whipping-tom/http://www.bpi1700.org.uk/research/printOfTheMonth/mayjune2009.htmlhttps://www.historyanswers.co.uk/people-politics/ne-win-the-burmese-dictator-who-bathed-in-blood/
https://funfactz.com/law-and-crime-facts/whipping-tom/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipping_Tom