'Killer clown' chased terrified schoolboy half a mile

A Notts mum has told of her panic after her son was chased by a man in a clown mask.
This image of the 'Mansfield Clown' was mysteriously posted on Facebook by an anonymous source in 2013. Some are saying the scary character has returned. Others say 'ridiculous' youths are 'wasting police time'.This image of the 'Mansfield Clown' was mysteriously posted on Facebook by an anonymous source in 2013. Some are saying the scary character has returned. Others say 'ridiculous' youths are 'wasting police time'.
This image of the 'Mansfield Clown' was mysteriously posted on Facebook by an anonymous source in 2013. Some are saying the scary character has returned. Others say 'ridiculous' youths are 'wasting police time'.

A Notts mum has issued a warning to other parents over claims her son was chased away from school by a 'killer clown'.

Posting on Facebook, the woman said the incident involving her son near Warsop, north of Mansfield.

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Calling it 'the latest craze' she said: "My youngest son was out this afternoon (Monday) and was followed by a man in a clown mask."

"He noticed this guy following him, started running and the guy sped up... luckily my child escape to his friends home and got a lift home."

She said the man in a clown mask chased her son all the way from The Carrs, in Church Warsop, through the skate park and into the village - a distance of around half a mile.

The mum added: "Don't go out alone... or let your children out alone - especially in Nottinghamshire. Protect the ones you love and hopefully the people doing this will be caught and stopped soon."

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There have also been other alleged sightings of people dressed as clowns in Netherfield Lane in Meden Vale, Mansfield Woodhouse, Ladybrook and Shirebrook.

It is thought these are the first reports of clown appearances in North Nottinghamshire.

The 'killer clown' craze swept the country over the weekend, following a similar spate of incidents in the US, believed to possibly be inspired by a PR stunt to promote the remake of Stephen King's clown horror film 'It', or the soon to be released horror movie The Clown.

Elsewhere, Thames Valley Police dealt with 14 incidents in 24 hours over the weekend, and the Metropolitan Police arrested a student at Brunel University, dressed as a clown and wielding a chainsaw.

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Another incident in London saw a schoolgirl chased down the street by a 'killer clown' wielding a knife.

But this is not Mansfield's first contact with creepy clowns terrifying the public. In 2013 there were numerous sightings of the 'Mansfield Clown', which led to the start of a Mansfield Clown Facebook page. At it's peak the site had 20,000 likes. The group found on Facebook now only has 23 members.

Speaking before the reported clown sightings, Mansfield district commander Inspector Nick Butler advised people not to participate.

He said: “It’s causing real anxiety, particularly among young people, and it’s not funny.”

Regarded as a public order offence, it could lead to participants being arrested. Nottinghamshire Police has yet to confirm whether the incidents have been reported.