Inside the sleepy village torn apart by a poison pen letter scandal
A sleepy village has been thrown into turmoil by a hate-filled poison pen campaign.
A sleepy village has been thrown into turmoil by a hate-filled poison pen campaign.
The anonymous typed letters began arriving through letterboxes in Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire, about two years ago and have continued ever since despite several complaints to police.
The disgusting letters have mainly targeted parish councillors but have also been sent to residents and the local councillor who also happens to be the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.
They contain vile personal abuse, with comments such as everyone agrees you should rot in hell, hope cancer finds you very soon and a reference to being pushed under a bus.
With no hard evidence to go on Humberside Police have had no success in identifying the person or persons responsible for the letters.
The anonymous typed letters (pictured) began arriving through letterboxes in Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire, about two years ago and have continued ever since despite several complaints to police
The saga has cast a dark shadow over the usually peaceful and historic village (pictured) with a population of around 500
Several months later posters began appearing around the village as part of a campaign for the new councillors to be replaced by the old councillors, said Chairman Victor Lambert (pictured)
The saga has cast a dark shadow over the usually peaceful and historic village with a population of around 500.
And inevitably it has resulted in neighbour suspecting neighbour as the hunt for the culprit continues.
More than 25 letters have been sent to at least 10 people since January 2022.
The poison pen campaign appears to be connected with village politics as most recipients are parish councillors.
Elections last year saw an entirely new parish council elected, apart from one councillor who remained from the previous regime.
Several months later posters began appearing around the village as part of a campaign for the new councillors to be replaced by the old councillors, said Chairman Victor Lambert, who believes this was also the work of the poison pen letter writer or writers.
Mr Lambert, 75, a horticultural consultant, has himself received nine unpleasant and disgusting letters over the past 18 months.
They include the wish he gets cancer and is run over by a bus on the A1079.
I have gone to police three times and they have copies of all the letters, he said.
I dont know who sent them, although I have my own personal suspicions. I dont have any evidence and the police have said there is very little they can do.
Mr Lambert, 75, a horticultural consultant, has himself received nine unpleasant and disgusting letters over the past 18 months
More than 25 letters have been sent to at least 10 people since January 2022
The poison pen campaign appears to be connected with village politics as most recipients are parish councillors
I see comments about being pushed under a bus as a death threat. Its horrible and unpleasant but it has mainly been directed at councillors.
He added: This is a lovely village with zero crime, but it takes only one or two bad apples to ruin a barrel. The letters are clearly from a very disturbed person.
Local resident and former councillor Katy Wrathall suffered flooding in her home last year and received one of the poison pen letters which she published on the community Facebook site for all to see.
It 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….it is you the witch that the village dislikes just keep raining.
Ms Wrathall posted: If you know who is sending these letters please get them help before they get themselves in serious trouble. The police are investigating.
Another letter published online stated: 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.
A woman who received one of the letters told the BBC: It was vile, I ripped it up, I couldnt believe where it had come from or why Id received it.
Humberside Police said they received reports from three people, including two women in January 2023 (file image)
The sage has has resulted in neighbour suspecting neighbour as the hunt for the culprit continues
It was accusing me of what you could call being a loose woman, she said. It said the only way I would ever get anywhere within politics would be if I was to perform unspeakable things to men.
While Leo Hammond, the local councillor and deputy PCC, has been sent eight letters.
He said: Mine are relatively mild but they have quite an obsession with my sexuality. They keep suggesting Im a closet homosexual which is not the case.
Im pretty thick-skinned but when it comes to attacking parish councillors its really sad.
Humberside Police said they received reports from three people, including two women in January 2023. In the first there were no viable lines of enquiry to identify a suspect and the case was closed.
In the second the letters contents were not available but CCTV was reviewed. However, no further investigative opportunities were able to be obtained.
Police were contacted in August by a man who had received an anonymous letter, but the content wasnt considered criminal.
Officers urged anyone with information or concerns to get in touch.
