The flurry of poison pen letters, one of which hoped one recipient would get cancer, has led people to leave the small village of Shiptonthorpe amid a slew of malicious gossip
An East Yorkshire town has been torn apart following a flurry of poison pen letters that have left residents terrorised and sparked a police investigation.
The mail has slipped through letterboxes in Shiptonthorpe – a village of 500 people – for the past two years and appeared to have been penned by a mysterious writer. The letters were described as “vulgar” as well as “personal, obscene and targeted.” Humberside Police has opened an investigation into the bizarre poison pen letters.
Resident Sophie, not her real name, said she first received a letter in December 2022 and went on to report it to police. She had been trying to become a ward councillor at the time and was left “astonished” when she opened it.
“It was accusing me of what you could call being a loose woman,” she told the BBC. “It said the only way I would ever get anywhere within politics would be if I was to perform unspeakable things to men.”
The malicious author then wrote that Sophie should be “turned out on the Beverley Westwood pasture with the rest of the cows.”
Humberside Police told the BBC it had been notified about the letter. “Inquiries were carried out at the time, including reviewing CCTV,” a spokesperson for the force said.
“However, the content of the alleged letter was unavailable and subsequently no further investigative opportunities were able to be obtained.” Police later said they had given Sophie safety advice and were told she had been sent three more letters.
The ordeal is reminiscent of a series of scandalous notes that were sent to residents in Littlehampton, in Sussex, in 1920. The incident was the inspiration for the 2023 British movie ‘Wicked Little Letters’ starring Olivia Colman.
Sophie’s partner Sam opened letters that claimed to be from a friend which urged him “to be honest” with himself. One letter seen by the BBC warned Sam about Sophie’s private life and called on him to stop her from “roaming.” The letter was signed: “From a caring dear friend.”
He claimed the photos made him fear for both himself and his partner. Humberside Police added they had been notified about letters being sent to a concerned man.
More letters were sent to other residents, one of which told a villager: “I hope cancer finds you.” Other residents have claimed the letters have cast a shadow over the village and that some people had left because of the letters.
A man, who gave his name as Jason, said: “People come here for a quiet, tranquil, community-spirted life and that’s being damaged badly by one or two devilish people,” he said. In my opinion I believe this constitutes a hate crime.”
The Mirror has contacted Humberside Police for comment.
