Mystery clown is scaring children by lurking silently in streets and shops and stroking people

A mystery clown is scaring children in Portsmouth, Hampshire, by lurking silently in streets and shops and stroking people. Residents have told how the clown, wearing a scary mask and a suit, stands in streets in the town and does not speak.

The clown is said to have entered Stage Door dancewear shop and stood still without saying anything. Shop assistant Karen Wilcock said it was inappropriate.



"Luckily no children were in the shop at the time, but he could freak people out. In this day and age we don't need this sort of thing." Andrea Hutchison from Preloved Portsmouth said the clown did the same at her shop.

"My daughter who's 22 hates clowns and would have had a full on hysteric if she'd seen him," she said. She said the clown was a 15-year-old schoolboy and a regular customer, but she did not know why he was dressing up. Police said they had received no criminal complaints and were not taking action.