Top criminologist tells why hiding behind a mask makes ‘killer clowns’ behave badly
A CRIMINOLOGIST has revealed why people act differently when they put on costumes such as a clown mask, as the 'killer clown' craze spreads.
Police have warned that people who dress as a clown could be at risk of arrests as people continue to terrorise others with the creepy costumes.
The craze has spread from America to the UK in recent weeks with about 30 towns and cities now reporting scary sightings.
Often the clowns appear menacing and carry a weapon of some kind as they target schoolchildren.
Dr Adam Lynes, a criminology lecturer at Birmingham City University, told the Daily Mirror, the craze is playing on fears from films such as Batman, and Stephen King's It.
He said: "The very act of hiding one’s face is also very powerful, potentially leading these individuals to act in a way they normally would not when their faces are visible.
"Social media coverage of similar cases in America could be a catalyst for some of these 'copycat clowns' here in the UK.
"It also important to note that it is nearly Halloween, which could be another reason as to why we are seeing a rise in such incidents."
He explained that the fear of clowns, Coulrophobia, is because clowns have both human and inhuman qualities which some people find upsetting.
The craze has got so out of control that popular circus, Zippos, has announced its shows will no longer feature clowns.
The Sun revealed today that the teenage son of an England football star has been suspended from his private school for making “killer clown” threats to other kids.
The lad was ringleader in a sick social media stunt that caused eight schools to be evacuated. Police were called in.
The craze has become so frustrating for some, that they have formed Clown Hunter groups on Facebook to try and patrol the streets.
Police have warned that taking part in the "killer clown" craze could land you in trouble, and even arrested.
Today, a group of pranksters appeared on Good Morning Britain to defend dressing up as clowns and scaring people, but distanced themselves from the people taking part in the current trend.
And a 10-year-old boy told the story of how he was chased by a person dressed as a clown and badly bruised after a rock was thrown at him.
In Leicestershire, one woman was scared so badly she went into early labour as the craze continues to baffle much of the UK.
Over the past weekend Thames Valley Police were called to 14 reports of people being intimidated or frightened by others dressed as clowns, while Gloucestershire Police had six reports and South Wales Police attended numerous reports as police are reporting more and more sightings.
Drivers in Manchester were startled to see two clowns running at their cars on Sunday, and a mum-of-two was left with terrified children after one jumped on her car.
Yesterday morning, an Instagram account promised 20 clowns with knives would descend on Essex schools this week.
A masked man carrying a knife left a group of children aged 11 and 12 “upset and distressed” when he jumped out on their way to the Hermitage Academy in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, at 8.40am on Friday.
While in Suffolk, a boy “younger than a teenager” was chased by “several people dressed as clowns” in Beatty Road, Sudbury, at 8pm on Thursday, Suffolk Constabulary confirmed.
In Crawley, West Sussex, a clown with a hatchet was seen by a motorist in a park while another was seen on a street corner.
Last week a clown on a scooter shocked passers-by as it nipped past in Sheffield.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368.