What's happening in the 'poison pen letter' Yorkshire village: 'It’s a damn shame, but it's not Hot Fuzz'
It's not often a quiet village of just 500 people receives the attention of national newspapers and radio stations. But that has happened to Shiptonthorpe, Yorkshire, over the past couple of days - all thanks to a series of anonymous "poison pen" letters sent to numerous residents.
The letters, including one wishing cancer on a recipient, have been circulating for two years with police called in to investigate.
However, officers have not been able to progress the case and the letters continue to be posted by the anonymous perpetrator - or perpetrators.
The saga has been compared to the storyline of Wicked Little Letters, last year's film starring Olivia Colman that was based on the true story of anonymous abusive letters blighting the seaside town of Littlehampton, Sussex, in 1920.
Amid all the media coverage, including claims of a "cloud of vitriol" hanging over the village, Yahoo News spoke to residents to hear their take.
And while there is no doubting the letters have caused upset - one told Yahoo News "we're petrified" - the parish council chair made clear "the isolated incidents are not representative of the community in general".
"It’s a damn shame but it’s not Hot Fuzz," another resident said.
Here, we take a look at what has been going on.
What's happening in Shiptonthorpe
The anonymous letters have been circulating in the village for two years.
Humberside Police confirmed it has investigated three separate reports of “letters containing offensive language causing upset and distress”.
It received reports in December 2022, January last year and August this year, but there have been no “viable lines of enquiry to identify a suspect”.
However, it is thought many more letters have been sent and posts on Shiptonthorpe Facebook groups suggest they have recently started circulating again.
Victor Lambert, chair of Shiptonthorpe Parish Council, told Yahoo News current councillors - himself included - are among people in the village who have been targeted with “numerous” anonymous letters.
Some letters have been shared on social media and contain offensive and upsetting content.
One, said to be from January last year, read: “You are an ugly old fat cow who nobody likes most find you revolting. Everyone agrees you should rot in hell. You use up oxygen better used by decent people. Kids are frightened when they see you. Hope cancer finds you very soon.”
Another, sent to the same person, read: “Hoping and praying for rain lots of it. Climate change and Yorkshire weather will deliver lots of rain so your house can be flooded again and again. Most people in Shiptonthorpe are wanting rain and floods so you are washed away never to be seen again. XXXX is OKish it is you the witch that the village dislikes just keep raining.”
'It’s a damn shame but it’s not Hot Fuzz'
Villagers that Yahoo News spoke to on Monday said that while the letters have caused distress, they are not exactly leaving people afraid to leave their homes.
Indeed, some didn't even know that the letters have been circulating.
One business owner, who didn’t want to be named, said he only found out about the saga when a customer mentioned the story had been featured on Jeremy Vine’s Radio 2 show.
He added: “The village is a really tight community, a very pleasant place to live. Obviously we’ve got a nutter somewhere.”
Roger Whitfield, treasurer of Shiptonthorpe Bowls Club, also told this website he only heard about the "poison pen" letters on Monday morning, when a friend told him the story had been in the news. He said he thought he was being wound up.
Meanwhile, Cllr Lambert rubbished reports in some outlets that the letters were causing people to move away. "This is simply fake news, it is not happening.
"We believe you will find a content community who are pleased with the local activities, past functions, charity ones currently in place and planned for coming weeks and months." He added the "frenzy" has been "stirred up" on social media.
Jamie Holdich, who has lived in Shiptonthorpe for six years, told Yahoo News of the letters: “It’s a massive shame. This village is a lovely community and we all look after each other. We’re petrified about this happening and worried about who it is. It’s a genuine mystery.”
But he added: “I love Shiptonthorpe and this is not an accurate representation of the village life.
“All these stories about people moving out of Shiptonthorpe because they feel unsafe, that it’s covered in a toxic cloud... I am sorry, that’s bulls***. It’s a damn shame but it’s not Hot Fuzz." (Hot Fuzz is a 2007 comedy film set in an idyllic village which suffers a host of grisly murders.)
“Everybody’s still out walking their dogs, saying hello to each other. Everybody smiles at one another. We’re still cracking on.”
