The ‘Northampton Clown’ who shot to global fame terrifying locals across his home town has spoken for the first time about his spooky night-time appearances and declared: “I wasn’t trying to scare anyone.”
The sinister figure – who bears an uncanny resemblance to movie monster Pennywise from Stephen King’s ‘It’ – has been repeatedly spotted around Northampton in full clown attire and make-up.
There had so far been no explanation for the sudden night-time appearances of the joker – who first appeared in the Midlands town on Friday 13th , this month.
The mystery character behind the mask even set up a Facebook group detailing his exploits – with a picture of the feared jester at the top of the page.
Since then he has amassed a worldwide following after being photographed waving at passers-by, carrying a teddy bear and even a bunch of colourful balloons.
And earlier this week he even gained a rival, as a vigilante calling himself ‘Boris the Clown Catcher’ set out to trap him.
Others who were so unnerved by his creepy appearances even vowed to ATTACK the prankster if they ever came across him.
But the clown – who wants to keep his real identity anonymous – said he had just wanted to make people smile.
Speaking for the first time about his new-found notoriety, he said: “I just wanted to amuse people.
“Most people enjoy being a bit freaked out and then they can laugh about it afterwards.
“It’s like watching a horror movie, when people get scared they usually start laughing.
“Naturally, some people would have been extremely frightened by what they saw, but I hope many are starting to see it as a bit of harmless fun.”
He added it will be “more difficult to keep his identity a secret” as people were working out where he lived.
However, the clown said he intended to keep appearing in the town “for as long as people are interested” and he may even start holding a “clown” day every week.
Since becoming a viral sensation it has also emerged that tourists had travelled from as far away as AMERICA in search of the clown.
Mum-of-three Felicity McDonald, 45, who lives in Northampton, said: “It’s the only thing anybody has been talking about in the entire town for the past week.
“My neighbour told me they had bumped into a family from Florida who had come on holiday and driven from London just to look for the clown because they are Stephen King fans.
“Its unbelievable – it’s really put our little town on the map.”
Meanwhile, some social network users with coulrophobia – a fear of clowns – have failed to see the funny side of his appearances and called on him to stop his scary antics.
Kelly Keen wrote on the site: “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.”
Britney Pugh added: “You’re scary why are you even doing that?”
Others have become a huge fan of the Northampton Clown and he has since amassed a Facebook following of over 130,000 people.
Jay Gould wrote: “Poor clown just trying to liven up Northampton and people threatening to hurt him.”
Jessica Maffre (corr) wrote: “Loving all this, it’s brightened up boring old Northampton a treat, people need to stop taking things so serious and just enjoy the fun, don’t try and ruin it, and please dont be violent towards the clown.”
Northamptonshire Police say no incidents of violence towards clowns had been reported to them so far.
