Small British village rocked by crime writer who publishes hateful letters to its residents | United Kingdom | News

A village has become what some have described as a “poison village” after a series of anonymous hate letters were sent to a number of residents.

The small parish of Shiptonthorpe, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is about half an hour from York, and residents have been “terrified” by the letters for two years, with no answer given as to the identity of the author.

Many will have heard the strikingly similar story of the vitriolic anonymous letters sent to the residents of Littlehampton, a small seaside town in Sussex, in 1920. The true story has since been turned into a 2023 period comedy-drama, Wicked Little Letters, starring Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley.

Although Humberside Police have investigated a few incidents related to the letters in Shiptonthorpe, the culprit remains at large. One of the villagers, known as Sophie, received her first letter in 2022 and reported it to police.

She told the BBC: “It was disgusting, I tore it up, I couldn’t believe where it had come from or why I had received it.”

“I was accused of being an easy woman. I was told that the only way for me to achieve anything in politics would be to do unspeakable things to men.”

The letter ended by suggesting that Sophie be “sent to Beverley Westwood pasture with the rest of the cows”. Humberside Police said: “Enquiries were made at the time, including reviewing CCTV.”

Sophie’s partner Sam also received letters from the mean writer, urging him to “be honest” with himself and stop Sophie from “wandering”. The letter was signed as “From a dear and caring friend”.

Humberside Police said: “Officers examined the letter but its contents did not contain any offensive language and it was established that no criminal offence had been committed.”

Another letter to another villager read: “I hope cancer finds you.”

Some villagers were so upset by the letter fiasco that they reportedly left Shiptonthorpe.

Jason, a resident of Shiptonthorpe, said: “People come here for a quiet, peaceful, community life and that life is being seriously disrupted by one or two bad people. In my opinion, I think this is a hate crime.”

Conservative councillor for Wolds Weighton ward in East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Leo Hammond, yesterday addressed his Facebook followers about the malicious letters he has received. He also believes there are multiple perpetrators.

He said: “I have also condemned the poisoned letters that are circulating in the village and that I, current and former parish councillors have received. I personally believe that there are at least two authors of these letters – both are very sad and frankly cowardly. This must stop!”