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Clowns spotted acting suspiciously in Northampton (UK)
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mrpoulticeOffline
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PostPosted: 15-09-2013 11:13    Post subject: Clowns spotted acting suspiciously in Northampton (UK) Reply with quote

I've run into 2 mentions of this story this morning, I'll add the other link when I find it again. Coulrophobics of Northamptonshire, should be very afraid it seems...

Quote:

Police warning after clowns spotted acting suspiciously in Northampton
by Callum Jones
Published on the13 September 2013

The police are trying to track two teenagers dressed as clowns who have been spotted acting suspiciously in Northampton.

A woman who lives in Milton Street, Kingsley, called the police yesterday after two teenagers, who had their faces covered in make-up, knocked on her door and offered to paint her window sills.

The woman became suspicious of the pair, described as aged between 15 and 17 years old, as they had no painting equipment with them.

The teenagers are described as having faces which were covered with a large amount of white paint. They were also wearing clown costumes.

A number of sightings of people dressed as clowns have also been reported across Northampton in recent weeks.

Pictures have been posted on Facebook showing a variety of people dressed as clowns in different locations in the town.

It is not known if the pictures posted on Facebook have anything to do with the two young men seen in Kingsley.


Source Northampton Chronical & Echo

Edit: Found the other story. It seems we have a person dressed as clown going out of their way to be creepy.

Quote:

Spooky clown mystery grips Northampton
Written by Steve Scoles.

A spooky clown has been scaring Northampton residents in full costume and make up.

He is red haired and white faced and has appeared in several locations in the Abington and Kingsley areas.

A Facebook page has now been set up for the clown called Spot Northampton's Clown which has already achieved over 3,000 likes since it went live yesterday.

The clown has proved a sensation on social media and has its own Twitter hashtag #northamptonclown.

According to reports it has knocked on someone's door and offered to paint their sills despite having no painting equipment.

Let us know if you see it too. Here are some Tweets about the clown so far:

Had to look out my window to check for a clown. No clown. Phew. #clownwatch #northamptonclown
— Matthew Whitehouse (@matt_whitehouse) September 13, 2013


Source Northamton Herald & Post

There are a couple of photos floating round on Reddit and Facebook, but I've no way of knowing if they are of the same thing/clown/person.

This photo was posted to the R/UK section of Reddit this morning, by someone who claimed they saw it while out last night!


Mr P
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jimv1Offline
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PostPosted: 15-09-2013 11:29    Post subject: Reply with quote

Crying out for attention and getting it.
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gncxxOffline
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PostPosted: 15-09-2013 18:09    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are the Juggalos in town?
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Zilch5Offline
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PostPosted: 15-09-2013 23:14    Post subject: Reply with quote

ALL clowns act suspciously, if you ask me... Twisted Evil
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kamalktkOffline
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PostPosted: 15-09-2013 23:54    Post subject: Reply with quote

gncxx wrote:
Are the Juggalos in town?

They haven't figured out magnets, so airplanes to get to the UK are probably out of the question.
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sherbetbizarreOffline
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PostPosted: 16-09-2013 00:23    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Not funny: Creepy clown lingers on streets of Northampton in middle of the night

When you go out to East Midlands today, you’re sure of a big surprise.

An unnerving, anonymous clown has sent shivers down the spines of Northampton residents by lingering on street corners in full fancy dress, for the second night running.

It reportedly first appeared on Friday 13th and was spotted again yesterday, under the cloak of darkness on Cedar Road in the north-east of the city.

With its white face, drawn-on brows, a red wig and ruffled collar, it is a carbon copy of the Pennywise clown from Stephen King-inspired 1990 horror film, IT.

The scary apparition-like sight has also been seen standing on a pavement waving with a teddy hanging between its fingers in its other hand.

The minor celebrity now even has its own Facebook page which poses the question ‘Can you spot me around Northants?’

The clown has ruffled social media users, one of whom said: ‘I am simultaneously fascinated and petrified by the idea of the #northamptonclown.’

Another said: ‘Seriously what’s this thing about a clown in Northampton standing outside houses with balloons #scared #northamptonclown.’

The clown also knocked on a stranger’s door and offered to paint their window sills despite having no equipment, the Northampton Herald & Post reported.

The lonely clown has said in its Facebook group, which now has over 5,000 likes, ‘I don’t terrorise people I just want to be spotted.’

However, that hasn’t allayed the fears of one Facebook user who said: ‘You’ve been spotted now get out of the clown suit and start acting like a grown up that you supposing are and stop scaring people as some people do have real fears of clowns and you are terrorising them despite what you may say.’


http://metro.co.uk/2013/09/15/not-funny-creepy-clown-lingers-on-streets-of-northampton-in-middle-of-the-night-4012455/

Quote:
New Northampton clown sighting in town centre

The Northampton clown has appeared for the third night in a row with a new picture on his Facebook page showing him in the town centre.

The clown is in his trademark ill fitting blue suit with a florid yellow shirt on Abington Street in front of the Cobbler's Last statue outside the Grosvenor Centre.

It is nighttime and no-one else appears in the picture. He also posted the following message:

"Beep Beep! Didn't think i'd be seen tonight. Extremely quiet but there were a few of you who saw. See you all around."

Did you see the Northampton clown tonight? Let us know...

http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/News/Northampton-News/New-Northampton-clown-sighting-in-town-centre-15092013.htm


Quote:
Northampton’s mysterious clown trends on Twitter as story goes viral around the world

Northampton now has another claim to fame as sightings of a mysterious clown around the town have gripped social media and the internet.

A Facebook page has been created and thousands of people have followed the story on Twitter setting up the hashtag #northamptonclown.

The hashtag was trending on Twitter on Sunday as more and more people tweeted about the strange sightings of the clown. Comedian Alan Carr, one of Northampton’s famous sons, got involved at one point, expressing his incredulation about the story. The official X Factor account also commented to its 3,900,000 followers: “We’ll be honest... we’re actually watching the repeat for any signs of the #northamptonclown. *shivers*”. Northampton Saints skipper Dylan Hartley commented: “Only in Northampton” before posting a picture of his team-mate Paul Diggin with the tweet: “WARNING: managed to crop and enlarge the clowns face”.

Chron sports editor Jeremy Casey pitched in with: “Shouldn’t the #northamptonclown be the ‘Northampton Cleyn’? #northamptoncleyn”

The clown’s Facebook page now has more than 13,000 likes as people gave differing views on his actions.

Earler today the clown posted: “Too much hate not enough love . No, i don’t have a knife on me!, thats just stupid rumours spread by stupid people. I’m also ‘not’ on twitter as it confuses the heck out of me. However, i might go for a jog around that pond in Abington park later as i’m really unfit... See you around! Beep Beep!”

Earlier he posted: “To prove i’m real to all the lovers and doubters, i’ll see you in town today. Keep those eyes peeled”.

The phenonemon started on Friday when the Chron first reported on two teenagers acting suspiciously dressed as clowns. It quickly spread as social media users reported seeing another appearing at random locations across the town.

So far the clown has been seen on St Michael’s Road and Cedar Road. Social media users have also started to create their own images of Northampton’s clown and others have given their theory on why the clown is appearing.

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/northampton-s-mysterious-clown-trends-on-twitter-as-story-goes-viral-around-the-world-1-5492914
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Pietro_Mercurios
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PostPosted: 16-09-2013 10:38    Post subject: Reply with quote

Northampton is Alan Moore territory. I wonder what he makes of this weirdness?

There's certainly a clown in Jimmy's End, if not that clown.

http://litreactor.com/news/alan-moore-and-mitch-jenkins-releasing-three-more-shorts

I wonder if there's a connection?
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sherbetbizarreOffline
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PostPosted: 16-09-2013 12:30    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Northampton clown unmasked? New clues emerge as roaming prankster terrifies town

He may be dividing opinion but the Northampton clown has at least brought a fair bit of (nervous) excitement to the East Midlands town these last few days. And we now may be a step closer to uncovering his true identity.

The menacing enigma has been loitering the streets since Friday September 13 and has whipped up a social media frenzy following reported ‘sightings’ in the north-east of the town and again last night in its centre.

The clown’s anonymity has been something of a talking point, with many attempting to guess who could be responsible for his freaky kerbside activities.

A video posted on YouTube in May shows a short film entitled The Local Clown, which was shot in Northampton.

The witty mockumentary follows the life of a morose clown called Richard and was written and directed by filmmaker Alex Powell.

Local newspaper the Northampton Herald & Post has speculated that this could, indeed, be the Northampton clown, but while the protagonist clown is wearing the same outfit as the #Northamptonclown of late, his make-up and features are somewhat different.

However, it does also appear to show the same blue-doored car garage that the clown was pictured outside on Friday.

Mr Powell has been quick to refute the claims that he is behind the stunt, declaring on YouTube: ‘Theres been lots of rumours that I’m the ‘Northampton Clown’ but I am NOT! But thanks for all the interest as its shot my views right up Smile And I don’t live in Northampton anymore.’

However, the filmmaker posted a very telling photograph of a Pennywise (from Stephen King 1990 horror adaptation, IT) costume on his profile late last year.

The clown has created smiles and quivers for the last three nights, and even has his own self-managed Facebook page, which has garnered over 25,000 likes.

His most recent post, this morning, denied claims that he was knocking on houses and admitted that if it gets too much for people he will gladly stop.

‘I “haven’t” been knocking on houses and asking to paint window sills!? I may have to change my appearance as the actor in that Local Clown film has the same costume as me,’ he said.

‘If what i am doing does get too much for people, I will have to stop.’

Comedian Alan Carr replied on Twitter to someone asking if it was him: ‘No, but i’ve heard about it – WTF?!!! RT @Lawzy_J: @AlanCarr Are u the one going around northampton dresséd as a clown?? #Northamptonclown

http://metro.co.uk/2013/09/16/northampton-clown-unmasked-new-clues-emerge-as-roaming-prankster-terrifies-town-4026613/
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WeirdIslandOffline
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PostPosted: 16-09-2013 14:45    Post subject: Reply with quote

I genuinely can't think of a cultural reference that paints clowns in a positive light any more!

My wife's dad was a clown and regrettably fit the stereotype in that he hated kids. In fact, my wife tells me he would actually nip kids that annoyed him!

Anyway, it's interesting to see that these particular clowns have been identified as 'teenagers'. Normally, part of clowns' sinister back story is that they are creepy old men...
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cherrybombOffline
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PostPosted: 16-09-2013 16:35    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's all very creepy. Maybe some kind of student stunt? (I'll keep hoping it's that Sad )
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jimv1Offline
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PostPosted: 16-09-2013 19:23    Post subject: Reply with quote

Northampton...Alan Moore....Stewart Lee!
I really want it to be Stewart Lee - he'd make scary clowns fun again.
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Pietro_Mercurios
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PostPosted: 16-09-2013 20:12    Post subject: Reply with quote

jimv1 wrote:
Northampton...Alan Moore....Stewart Lee!
I really want it to be Stewart Lee - he'd make scary clowns fun again.

Lee's been doing some weird stuff recently.

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/aug/05/baconface-edinburgh-festival-2013-review

And he did do a very interesting series about Hopi clowns for BBC Radio4.

White Face, Dark Heart: Part 1. | Part 2.
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JamesWhiteheadOffline
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PostPosted: 16-09-2013 21:56    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm not sure if I can see Lee being mistaken for a 15 to 17 year-old these days. Or offering to paint window-sills. Not without a camera-crew along.

He did, once upon a time, make an alarmingly pleasing Jesus.

Aware I'm showing my age by wishing those two would get together again . . . Smile

Not Jesus, silly, the other one!
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UnwellOffline
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PostPosted: 16-09-2013 22:23    Post subject: Reply with quote

I must confess, I thought it sounded super-cool until I learnt that the clown has his own facebook page. boring now.
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ramonmercadoOffline
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PostPosted: 17-09-2013 13:45    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/images/cartoons/latest.gif
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