Person in clown mask pursued & scared young child

POLICE have confirmed that they believe an individual dressed as a clown chased and scared a young child for a short distance at Cunningsburgh on Saturday afternoon.

Officers are still looking to trace an individual who jumped out from the open back of a black pickup vehicle at the village’s Blett junction at around 12.15pm. The clown mask he or she was wearing is described as having orange afro-style hair and big red lips.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that the victim was a young child who was indeed scared as a result of their actions.

“The person dressed as a clown was said to have jumped from the open back of the moving vehicle and chase[d] the child for a short distance.

“At this moment in time police cannot confirm the motive of the persons involved, however would like to trace the driver of the vehicle as well as the person dressed as a clown.

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“Police would urge them to come forward to give their explanation on the incident or any witnesses to it.”

The phenomenon of dressing up as a clown and trying to frighten people originated in the US and spread to the UK during 2016 – prompting police, parents and school teachers to express concern in the national media in October.