Fitness influencer Steph Claire Smith reveals terrifying ordeal on her daily walk which left her in tears

Steph Claire Smith recalls a terrifying ordeal during her daily walk that left her in tears.

The Melbourne-based fitness influencer, 29, described the scary moment a man behind the wheel of a white van started following her while she was walking.

She recalled becoming fearful for her safety when a white van next to her slowed ‘dramatically’ before turning around her and passing her again.

Speaking to her friend Laura Henshaw on their podcast KICPOD, Steph said she was left in tears as the driver continued to drive past her and stare at her.

She said: ‘There was one point for me where I used to walk every day and I had this route that I absolutely wanted to follow at my old place where I used to live.

‘There was a day when everything changed for me because I hadn’t thought about changing the routes.

‘I often walked during the day… and lived along busy roads, but I honestly didn’t think about that. I think I was a bit naive about it.”

Recounting the shocking ordeal, she continued: “I can remember the van like it was yesterday […] It was an old white van, like a wagon, with curtains in the back window, super creepy.

“And this guy had his window open, he was old, and he was staring into my eyes as he passed me.”

The Melbourne-based fitness influencer, 29, described the scary moment a man behind the wheel of a white van started following her while she was walking (she is pictured running)

“I looked over my shoulder and this van made a U-turn and came back past me, slowed down and stared straight at me as it did so,” she added.

‘That man did it a number of times, about three or four times. Right now I’m crying and I don’t want to make eye contact with him.’

Steph said she then called her now husband Josh Miller and asked him to pick her up as she felt unsafe during the ‘scary’ ordeal.

Steph said she and Josh immediately reported the incident to the police after he picked her up, and she said she has never walked the same route since.

Fearing for her safety, Steph told how she called her now husband Josh Miller (pictured) to pick her up, and they immediately went to the police and reported the incident.

She said: ‘I haven’t run the same route and I’m constantly calling Josh when I’m feeling (scared), or I’ve got triple-0 ready on my phone and it’s just bloody.’

Laura agreed while angry, “It just sucks. We just want to go for a run or a walk.”

The comments section was flooded with messages from women who had suffered similar scary experiences as Steph’s followers sent her messages of support.