Unsettling letters haunt small English village for years
A quiet village in Yorkshire, England, has been gripped by a sinister and puzzling mystery: anonymous hate-filled letters have terrorized the 500 residents of Shiptonthorpe for years, and the culprit remains at large. According to a report from The Independent, these abusive “poison pen” letters have targeted individuals across the village, creating a climate of fear and suspicion.
A village under siege
Local councillor Leo Hammond described the ongoing ordeal, saying the letters are “quite professional” and have spared no one, not even elderly residents, public officials, or volunteers. “Whoever’s doing it is quite skilled,” Hammond noted. The letters are filled with vitriolic language and, in some cases, deeply personal attacks.
One resident shared a disturbing experience of receiving a blank Christmas card containing nothing but the word “c*nt.” Others have been similarly targeted, with the poison pen writer showing a disturbing level of malice toward the community.
Personal attacks and disturbing wishes
Victor Lambert, chair of the parish council, recalled receiving a chilling message that wished for him to be run over by a bus on the A1079, a main road passing through the village. Councillor Hammond himself has been the recipient of eight such letters since November 2022. While Hammond admits he expected to draw some attention as a politician, the venomous nature of these letters has shaken him and other recipients.
The letters arrive through the Royal Mail, but the author remains elusive. Some are handwritten, while others are typed using various fonts and even different types of paper. Adding to the mystery, many are signed with names of people who don’t exist, an odd detail that has perplexed investigators.
Malicious intent
The poison pen writer doesn’t stop at insults; the letters often wish harm upon the village and its residents. One letter, shared in a local Facebook group, prayed for Yorkshire’s notoriously rainy weather to flood the recipient’s home. “Most people in Shiptonthorpe are wanting rain and floods so you are washed away never to be seen again,” the letter read.
These anonymous messages have become a haunting presence in the village, leaving residents anxious and unnerved. “At least two people have had them this month, and I think somebody else got one in August,” Councillor Hammond shared, noting that the letters continue to arrive sporadically.
Though no concrete evidence has surfaced, Councillor Hammond suspects the poison pen writer may be disgruntled over decisions made by the parish council. “At the end of the day, the parish councillors and volunteers are trying to do good stuff for their local village or the local community,” Hammond said, expressing his frustration with the ongoing harassment.
Investigation launched, no clues yet
Despite the alarming frequency and deeply personal nature of the letters, authorities have yet to find any solid clues as to the identity of the sender. An investigation has been launched, but so far, the poison pen writer continues to operate in the shadows, leaving the residents of Shiptonthorpe to wonder when – or if – the harassment will end.
As the small Yorkshire village endures this unnerving chapter, the community remains united in its demand for answers, hoping that the mystery of the poison pen letters will soon be solved.