Alert Young female pilgrims, be cautious of an American pilgrim

Luka · Nov 11, 2023

I am doubting a bit if I should post this, so moderators please remove my post if you think it is inappropiate. On Thursday I was hiking with a (female) friend in Asturias. The last few kilometers we walked on the Norte. In Villahormes we met an American pigrim in his late forties, named Todd.

He was very eager to get in touch with us, but I thought he might just have been a bit lonely, walking the Camino in November and not speaking the language. While talking (telling us how hard it was to find cheap lodging and that he was a bit exhausted and desperate), he said he needed to stretch his back. He positioned himself with his back on a round stone my friend was standing next to, which made him look almost straight underneath her shorts. We found that a bit weird, but thought it was just a clumsy action.

We met him again in Nueva and helped him to get lodging there. He gave us his instagram account and my friend looked it up and started following him on instagram. Late at night she got pushy messages from him, asking her to come over to meet him. When she declined, he kept on nagging. She told him his behaviour was creepy. His response: 'Better than lame'. Then she blocked him. Google search led to a couple of news articles about him harrassing and punching a young woman in a bar in 2019.

All in all, this is just not the kind of guy I would like to end up with in a dorm as a young female pilgrim.

Kirkie · Nov 11, 2023

Luka said:
I am doubting a bit if I should post this, so moderators please remove my post if you think it is inappropiate. On Thursday I was hiking with a (female) friend in Asturias. The last few kilometers we walked on the Norte. In Villahormes we met an American pigrim in his late forties, named Todd.

He was very eager to get in touch with us, but I thought he might just have been a bit lonely, walking the Camino in November and not speaking the language. While talking (telling us how hard it was to find cheap lodging and that he was a bit exhausted and desperate), he said he needed to stretch his back. He positioned himself with his back on a round stone my friend was standing next to, which made him look almost straight underneath her shorts. We found that a bit weird, but thought it was just a clumsy action.

We met him again in Nueva and helped him to get lodging there. He gave us his instagram account and my friend looked it up and started following him on instagram. Late at night she started to get pushy messages from him, asking her to come over to meet him. When she declined, he kept on nagging. She told him his behaviour was creepy. His resonse: 'Better than lame'. Then she blocked him. Google search led to a couple of news articles about him harrassing and punching a young woman in a bar in 2019.

All in all, this is just not the kind of guy I would like to end up with in a dorm as a young female pilgrim.

Block him, and thanks for alert for other possible unsuspecting walkers, although more walk than are members of this forum. Use that other portal, fb, if you are on it.

SabsP · Nov 11, 2023

Thank you @Luka for informing us.
Not someone you want to have in your dorm.
Creepy and unaccepted behaviour from this man.
And now with season slowing down..brr... god knows what he gets up to.
I wonder if the punching in 2019 let to an official police complaint?
Luckily Todd is not that smart seeing he is easily traceable on the internet.

Stay safe!

Luka · Nov 11, 2023

SabsP said:
Thank you @Luka for informing us.
Not someone you want to have in your dorm.
Creepy and unaccepted behaviour from this man.
And now with season slowing down..brr... god knows what he gets up to.
I wonder if the punching in 2019 let to an official police complaint?
Luckily Todd is not that smart seeing he is easily traceable on the internet.

Stay safe!

This is one of the articles (I deleted some parts for privacy reasons):

A (...) man allegedly harassed and groped a woman repeatedly Saturday night at a downtown bar, then assaulted her when she pushed back against his advances, according to a police report.

The actions by (...) — which allegedly included trying to slap and punch the woman in the face — earned him the scorn of the other patrons at (...).

“He can’t get away with that,” one person said to police, according to the report. “I hope you rot in jail,” another said as (...) was being led out of the bar by police.

The 28-year-old victim in the case said (...) followed her around all night trying to flirt with her, and that she eventually told him to leave her alone.

“(The woman) then told me that (...) smacked her ‘ass,’” the police report states. “After (...) hit (her) in the buttocks, (the woman) pushed him away.”

He then allegedly tried to “full-blown smack me” in the face with an open hand, the alleged victim told police, according to the report.

“(The woman) then tried to tackle him,” the report states. “He grabbed (her) by the hair, pulled her to the ground and tried to punch her in the face with a closed fist.”

Other people in the club then stepped in and pulled him off the woman, the report states.

(...) “was heavily intoxicated” and unable to communicate with officers, according to the report. He became increasingly belligerent with a police officer and eventually was arrested and taken to (...) jail.

He was charged with third-degree assault and unlawful sexual contact, both misdemeanors.

Luka · Nov 11, 2023

Kirkie said:
Block him, and thanks for alert for other possible unsuspecting walkers, although more walk than are members of this forum. Use that other portal, fb, if you are on it.

I thought about FB, but I was just wondering if I would expose him too much that way.

SabsP · Nov 11, 2023

Luka said:
I thought about FB, but I was just wondering if I would expose him too much that way.

I do not believe so. If you keep your details there as you do here , I think you are not breaching any privacy rules.
I am not on the Camigas FB page but that could be a good start to post.

Lexicos · Nov 11, 2023

….. the very last thing you want on the camino, or anywhere near the camino…..

Kirkie · Nov 11, 2023

Luka said:
I thought about FB, but I was just wondering if I would expose him too much that way.

Luka, do not spend energy on protecting him...

Kirkie · Nov 11, 2023

Luka said:
This is one of the articles (I deleted some parts for privacy reasons):

A (...) man allegedly harassed and groped a woman repeatedly Saturday night at a downtown bar, then assaulted her when she pushed back against his advances, according to a police report.

The actions by (...) — which allegedly included trying to slap and punch the woman in the face — earned him the scorn of the other patrons at (...).

“He can’t get away with that,” one person said to police, according to the report. “I hope you rot in jail,” another said as (...) was being led out of the bar by police.

The 28-year-old victim in the case said (...) followed her around all night trying to flirt with her, and that she eventually told him to leave her alone.

“(The woman) then told me that (...) smacked her ‘ass,’” the police report states. “After (...) hit (her) in the buttocks, (the woman) pushed him away.”

He then allegedly tried to “full-blown smack me” in the face with an open hand, the alleged victim told police, according to the report.

“(The woman) then tried to tackle him,” the report states. “He grabbed (her) by the hair, pulled her to the ground and tried to punch her in the face with a closed fist.”

Other people in the club then stepped in and pulled him off the woman, the report states.

(...) “was heavily intoxicated” and unable to communicate with officers, according to the report. He became increasingly belligerent with a police officer and eventually was arrested and taken to (...) jail.

He was charged with third-degree assault and unlawful sexual contact, both misdemeanors.

Intoxication. Excuse. Not acceptable.

truenorthpilgrm · Nov 11, 2023

Luka said:
She told him his behaviour was creepy. His response: 'Better than lame"

This Todd character.....he doesn't sound too bright.

Reminds me of a similar (albeit less creepy) instance on the Frances 4 years ago, I had a brief encounter with a man in his forties in Santa Catalina de Somoza. I was sitting outside the cafe enjoying my coffee early one morning, minding my business. Next to me I noticed a pilgrim arranging his backpack and....for some reason I just immediately did not like this guy at all. I thought "maybe I just need more coffee and I won't be so crabby". After a few minutes he asked me a question (forgot what it was), I gave a one-word answer, and he brightened up and said "oh, you speak English!". Which....irritated me even more for some reason. I said yes and continued nursing my coffee, thinking that was it.

He puts on his backpack, gets out his phone, comes over to me, sticks his face right next to mine and holds his phone in front of us to take a photo and says "cheese!" I immediately pushed him away and said "what are you doing? I don't even know you". He gave a feeble answer, honestly I forgot what it was, but something like "just trying to be friendly" and I said "well you know what, feel free to ask next time". There was no introduction of names, for obvious safety reasons I wasn't keen on a photo of my face on a stranger's phone, and for him to all of a sudden swoop into my personal space without any warning, trying to take a selfie was just too much for me at 7am.

*disclaimer, I'm American, as was this guy, so there was no cultural misunderstanding. Which is why I felt very comfortable checking his audacity (ok, I relished it haha). I think he was very surprised at my reaction.

I later found out through another female pilgrim that had he had a habit of latching onto other women on the camino, first being friendly, then acting as if they had all of a sudden "paired up". Weird guy.

But my gut/intuition was right, and I guess that's the takeaway from my comment to women. Don't be paranoid, but always always always trust your gut.

Simperegrina · Nov 11, 2023

Oh my goodness, what a creep

Luka · Nov 11, 2023

OK, I have also put a warning on FB about this man.

Caomhin O Fearghaill · Nov 11, 2023

Luka said:
I am doubting a bit if I should post this, so moderators please remove my post if you think it is inappropiate. On Thursday I was hiking with a (female) friend in Asturias. The last few kilometers we walked on the Norte. In Villahormes we met an American pigrim in his late forties, named Todd.

He was very eager to get in touch with us, but I thought he might just have been a bit lonely, walking the Camino in November and not speaking the language. While talking (telling us how hard it was to find cheap lodging and that he was a bit exhausted and desperate), he said he needed to stretch his back. He positioned himself with his back on a round stone my friend was standing next to, which made him look almost straight underneath her shorts. We found that a bit weird, but thought it was just a clumsy action.

We met him again in Nueva and helped him to get lodging there. He gave us his instagram account and my friend looked it up and started following him on instagram. Late at night she got pushy messages from him, asking her to come over to meet him. When she declined, he kept on nagging. She told him his behaviour was creepy. His response: 'Better than lame'. Then she blocked him. Google search led to a couple of news articles about him harrassing and punching a young woman in a bar in 2019.

All in all, this is just not the kind of guy I would like to end up with in a dorm as a young female pilgrim.

Just like everyday life, there are nasty people on the Camino too...take care of yourselves,,,

TeMahAbuela2023 · Nov 11, 2023

Luka said:
I am doubting a bit if I should post this, so moderators please remove my post if you think it is inappropiate. On Thursday I was hiking with a (female) friend in Asturias. The last few kilometers we walked on the Norte. In Villahormes we met an American pigrim in his late forties, named Todd.

He was very eager to get in touch with us, but I thought he might just have been a bit lonely, walking the Camino in November and not speaking the language. While talking (telling us how hard it was to find cheap lodging and that he was a bit exhausted and desperate), he said he needed to stretch his back. He positioned himself with his back on a round stone my friend was standing next to, which made him look almost straight underneath her shorts. We found that a bit weird, but thought it was just a clumsy action.

We met him again in Nueva and helped him to get lodging there. He gave us his instagram account and my friend looked it up and started following him on instagram. Late at night she got pushy messages from him, asking her to come over to meet him. When she declined, he kept on nagging. She told him his behaviour was creepy. His response: 'Better than lame'. Then she blocked him. Google search led to a couple of news articles about him harrassing and punching a young woman in a bar in 2019.

All in all, this is just not the kind of guy I would like to end up with in a dorm as a young female pilgrim.

And I was just thinking to myself...hmmm...the Camino is so safe. Of course this can be encountered anywhere. Good to be aware always. Be safe.

MonicaMcL · Nov 11, 2023

""Young" female pilgrims beware"... why only young women? Do you believe this man would not harass a middle-aged or older woman? As a not-so-very young woman, I can vouch that it isn't only young women who are ever harassed.

Kristen Alvarez · Nov 11, 2023

Luka said:
I am doubting a bit if I should post this, so moderators please remove my post if you think it is inappropiate. On Thursday I was hiking with a (female) friend in Asturias. The last few kilometers we walked on the Norte. In Villahormes we met an American pigrim in his late forties, named Todd.

He was very eager to get in touch with us, but I thought he might just have been a bit lonely, walking the Camino in November and not speaking the language. While talking (telling us how hard it was to find cheap lodging and that he was a bit exhausted and desperate), he said he needed to stretch his back. He positioned himself with his back on a round stone my friend was standing next to, which made him look almost straight underneath her shorts. We found that a bit weird, but thought it was just a clumsy action.

We met him again in Nueva and helped him to get lodging there. He gave us his instagram account and my friend looked it up and started following him on instagram. Late at night she got pushy messages from him, asking her to come over to meet him. When she declined, he kept on nagging. She told him his behaviour was creepy. His response: 'Better than lame'. Then she blocked him. Google search led to a couple of news articles about him harrassing and punching a young woman in a bar in 2019.

All in all, this is just not the kind of guy I would like to end up with in a dorm as a young female pilgrim.

I hate that you’ve experienced this on your camino. If you’re able, I would consider stopping/resting for a few days so you don’t cross paths with him again. (It does seem that we keep running into a lot of the same people along the way.) I don’t like that this has to effect your journey, but safety is paramount.

JCLima · Nov 11, 2023

MonicaMcL said:
""Young" female pilgrims beware"... why only young women? Do you believe this man would not harass a middle-aged or older woman? As a not-so-very young woman, I can vouch that it isn't only young women who are ever harassed.

I don't believe OP meant to imply only young women get harassed, especially considering she's a woman herself.

MonicaMcL · Nov 11, 2023

JCLima said:
I don't believe OP meant to imply only young women get harassed, especially considering she's a woman herself.

I don't think the OP thought about it (and I do appreciate the warning in the post). It is usually an unconscious bias to exclude older woman. As women age, they disappear--at least in the US--and not including them as a possible target of harassment along with young women is a perfect example of this. You might not understand the concept of disappearing -- many do not and I personally never realized it myself until after I was no longer young. I really hope not to argue whether or not it is true. I only wanted to point it out in this instance to create awareness. I do not mean to take away from the OP's message.

JCLima · Nov 11, 2023

MonicaMcL said:
I don't think the OP thought about it (and I do appreciate the warning in the post). It is usually an unconscious bias to exclude older woman. As women age, they disappear--at least in the US--and not including them as a possible target of harassment along with young women is a perfect example of this. You might not understand the concept of disappearing -- many do not and I personally never realized it myself until after I was no longer young. I really hope not to argue whether or not it is true. I only wanted to point it out in this instance to create awareness. I do not mean to take away from the OP's message.

Ok.

Rita Flower · Nov 11, 2023

MonicaMcL said:
""Young" female pilgrims beware"... why only young women? Do you believe this man would not harass a middle-aged or older woman? As a not-so-very young woman, I can vouch that it isn't only young women who are ever harassed.

True - but I know from experience that if the choice is between me and a 20- something then I may as well not exist. And often younger women have yet to build the confidence and assertiveness to tell guys to f…. off when needed.

MinaKamina · Nov 11, 2023

Rita Flower said:
True - but I know from experience that if the choice is between me and a 20- something then I may as well not exist. And often younger women have yet to build the confidence and assertiveness to tell guys to f…. off when needed.

Yep.

.... which made him look almost straight underneath her shorts. We found that a bit weird, but thought it was just a clumsy action.

It takes a certain amount of life experience to know immediately that this behaviour is neither clumsy nor a coincidence.

JillGat · Nov 11, 2023

MonicaMcL said:
""Young" female pilgrims beware"... why only young women? Do you believe this man would not harass a middle-aged or older woman? As a not-so-very young woman, I can vouch that it isn't only young women who are ever harassed.

As a 65 year old, I was hit on, pinched and butt-slapped by that 80-something year old guy who used to prowl around the plaza in Castrojeriz for this purpose. That's the only time, fortunately, I experienced anything like this on the Camino. Certainly being older isn't complete protection against being seen as prey in some way, but I will tell you, I feel a lot safer as an older female than I did when I was in my 20s, hitchhiking around Spain. Whole different experience and one of the only good reasons to be old.

MonicaMcL · Nov 12, 2023

JillGat said:
As a 65 year old, I was hit on, pinched and butt-slapped by that 80-something year old guy who used to prowl around the plaza in Castrojeriz for this purpose. That's the only time, fortunately, I experienced anything like this on the Camino. Certainly being older isn't complete protection against being seen as prey in some way, but I will tell you, I feel a lot safer as an older female than I did when I was in my 20s, hitchhiking around Spain. Whole different experience and one of the only good reasons to be old.

If you are no longer hitchhiking around, that may be the reason that you are more safe today -- and not because you are older. Older hitchhikers may be less safe than younger ones, because older people are more easily overpowered than are young people.

trecile · Nov 12, 2023

MonicaMcL said:
""Young" female pilgrims beware"... why only young women? Do you believe this man would not harass a middle-aged or older woman? As a not-so-very young woman, I can vouch that it isn't only young women who are ever harassed.

Thank you. People mistakenly think that sexual assault happens primarily to young attractive women, when anyone - female or male can be a victim. Perpetrators don't necessarily care what the victim looks like.

C clearly · Nov 12, 2023

MonicaMcL said:
As women age, they disappear

Yes. I like this. I like being unnoticed when I travel, and have enjoyed the type of freedom it brings for an older woman.

truenorthpilgrm · Nov 12, 2023

I agree with many of the comments pointing out young vs. older women, but want to point out that perhaps OP's intent was to underscore youth, as in: young = not a lot of life experience/more vulnerable. I can tell you in my twenties, even into my thirties, I would often nervously laugh or freeze in the face of male predatory behavior/gross comments. Back then I was concerned about NOT ruffling feathers. God forbid I'm labeled a b*tch, or that I have "no sense of humor". Trust me, I've heard it all.

However, my experience with the random selfie-taker was 4 years ago (I was 45), so this guy wasn't concerned with age, YET I wonder if a 22 year old would have had the gut immediate instinct to push away another pilgrim taking a selfie. Like I said, I wasn't concerned about his feelings. But would I have done the same at 25? I don't think so....

trecile said:
Perpetrators don't necessarily care what the victim looks like.

Yes exactly, sexual assault is about power.

Jodean · Nov 12, 2023

Can you please share what you posted on Camigas, as I am not on that FB page, but am on 2 other FB pages that are for women walking a Camino. Mainly for older women, but still important information for them to know.
Thanks.

JillGat · Nov 12, 2023

MonicaMcL said:
If you are no longer hitchhiking around, that may be the reason that you are more safe today -- and not because you are older. Older hitchhikers may be less safe than younger ones, because older people are more easily overpowered than are young people.

My experience in Spain in my 20s was completely different from my experience in recent years. Maybe Spain has changed along with me aging. In the early 1970s, I was followed when I walked around Madrid, groped on buses and trains, hassled everywhere. Not anymore; I'm not saying risk isn't there, but I find Spanish people to be practically always friendly and respectful to me now. When they aren't ignoring me completely, which - like C Clearly - I am absolutely fine with, too!

JillGat · Nov 12, 2023

truenorthpilgrm said:
I agree with many of the comments pointing out young vs. older women, but want to point out that perhaps OP's intent was to underscore youth, as in: young = not a lot of life experience/more vulnerable. I can tell you in my twenties, even into my thirties, I would often nervously laugh or freeze in the face of male predatory behavior/gross comments. Back then I was concerned about NOT ruffling feathers. God forbid I'm labeled a b*tch, or that I have "no sense of humor". Trust me, I've heard it all.

However, my experience with the random selfie-taker was 4 years ago (I was 45), so this guy wasn't concerned with age, YET I wonder if a 22 year old would have had the gut immediate instinct to push away another pilgrim taking a selfie. Like I said, I wasn't concerned about his feelings. But would I have done the same at 25? I don't think so....

Yes exactly, sexual assault is about power.

As a 22 year old, I was asleep (out on the deck; all I could afford) on an overnight boat to Ibiza when a guy wiggled in next to me and started running his hands up my thigh. I kicked him in the stomach and then so hard in the shin I think I might have broken his leg. I was stupid and naive (especially hitchhiking alone) when I was young, but I don't know that I'd say I was too vulnerable.

Luka · Nov 12, 2023

MonicaMcL said:
""Young" female pilgrims beware"... why only young women? Do you believe this man would not harass a middle-aged or older woman? As a not-so-very young woman, I can vouch that it isn't only young women who are ever harassed.

I agree with you. But this particular man seems to go after young women in particular.

Luka · Nov 12, 2023

TeMahAbuela2023 said:
And I was just thinking to myself...hmmm...the Camino is so safe. Of course this can be encountered anywhere. Good to be aware always. Be safe.

I believe it IS very safe! That is why these kind of warning stand out.

Luka · Nov 12, 2023

Kristen Alvarez said:
I hate that you’ve experienced this on your camino. If you’re able, I would consider stopping/resting for a few days so you don’t cross paths with him again. (It does seem that we keep running into a lot of the same people along the way.) I don’t like that this has to effect your journey, but safety is paramount.

Thank you! But don't worry, I am not walking the Camino at the moment. I just live close to the Camino del Norte and happened to hike there that day.

Luka · Nov 12, 2023

MonicaMcL said:
I don't think the OP thought about it (and I do appreciate the warning in the post). It is usually an unconscious bias to exclude older woman. As women age, they disappear--at least in the US--and not including them as a possible target of harassment along with young women is a perfect example of this. You might not understand the concept of disappearing -- many do not and I personally never realized it myself until after I was no longer young. I really hope not to argue whether or not it is true. I only wanted to point it out in this instance to create awareness. I do not mean to take away from the OP's message.

I know about the concept of disappearing. I am 49.

Luka · Nov 12, 2023

trecile said:
Thank you. People mistakenly think that sexual assault happens primarily to young attractive women, when anyone - female or male can be a victim. Perpetrators don't necessarily care what the victim looks like.

It wasn't my intention at all to suggest that only young women can be victims of assault.

Luka · Nov 12, 2023

Jodean said:
Can you please share what you posted on Camigas, as I am not on that FB page, but am on 2 other FB pages that are for women walking a Camino. Mainly for older women, but still important information for them to know.
Thanks.

I don't know Camigas, but this is what I posted in the Camino del Norte FB group:

Just a heads-up about an American pilgrim in his forties, named Todd. We met him on the Norte on November 9 in between Villahormes and Nueva. He behaved pushy and creepy to a (female) friend of mine. A simple search on Google lead to a news article about him harassing a young woman in a bar in 2019. So young female pilgrims on the Norte, be cautious if you meet him.

ivar · Nov 12, 2023

Thank you for letting us know about this @Luka . I will close the thread now, since there is nothing really to discuss... take care!

Clay7011 · Tuesday at 4:30 PM

Planning on walking Norte-Primitivo starting about June 10, 2025. Are the albergues very busy at that time and also what will the weather be? I did this the end of August and September of 2017 and...

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