A Scottish town is living in fear as a sinister clown, reminiscent of Stephen King’s “Pennywise the Dancing Clown,” prowls its streets at night. The individual, who goes by the name Cole Deimos on Facebook, has been taunting local law enforcement and residents of Skelmorlie, a small town 35 miles from Edinburgh.
The clown, known for his red hair, collar, ruffled leggings, and the infamous red balloon, has been using social media to communicate with the public. In a Facebook post titled “A message to the media,” a distorted voice can be heard saying, “Well, well, well, I’ve made the news again. Should I smile for the cameras with my hideous grin?”
According to the Facebook profile, the clown claims to hail from Hell, Michigan, and attended Hellgate High School in Montana before studying at a Clown School and becoming self-employed. The account has been used to threaten residents of Skelmorlie, a town of approximately 2,000 people.
Local residents are understandably concerned. One father of two expressed his fear, stating, “Whoever this is they are scaring everybody – he needs to be stopped. Someone needs to have a word with him before the police get involved or he really terrifies someone. He could give someone a heart attack.”
The clown, dubbed the “Skelmorlie Clown,” has posted videos on Facebook challenging the police and calling out the media. Despite the threats and taunts, local police have yet to receive any formal reports regarding the clown’s activities.
In his videos, the clown reads out old Facebook comments and responds to them in a chilling monologue. He dares the police to catch him and insists that he doesn’t seek fame, glory, or gold, but simply wants to “play” in the “sleepy town.”
The “creepy clown” phenomenon is not new, having gained notoriety in 2016 when clowns threatened several schools in New York, leading to lockdowns in two Long Island districts. The Skelmorlie Clown has elicited mixed reactions on social media, with some dismissing it as a prank and others expressing fear and concern.
While some social media users have criticized the clown as “pathetic” and “lame,” others have found humor in the situation. One user even requested a selfie with the clown, while another found the Scottish accent amusing, suggesting the clown could be the unknown third member of the Proclaimers or Spud from Trainspotting.