First killer clown in Britain to be prosecuted over scaring kids is a jobless teen
A TEENAGER caught up in the "killer clown" craze has been fined £90 after he scared children at a Welsh school.
The jobless 18-year-old, Connor Jones, is one of the first to be charged and punished as the unusual craze grips the UK.
Police were called to a man dressed in a clowns outfit intimidating children outside St Cenygg Comprehensive School in Caerphilly, South Wales on Friday.
He was seen hiding to scare kids as they left their lessons, and wearing a black and white jumpsuit with a scary mask.
Police were called to deal with "intimidating behaviour" and his clown mask was confiscated.
Former pupil Jones was visited by officers at his nearby home - and admitted he had stood on a pedestrian bridge outside the school and neighbouring Hendre Infants school as children were leaving.
School staff were so concerned they issued a warning to parents via a messaging app.
Yesterday he was given a Fixed Penalty Notice and fined £90 for a public order offence.
It's thought the teenager, from Penyrheol, Caerphilly, is a former pupil at the school.
A Gwent police spokesman said: "An 18-year-old-man from Penyrheol, Caerphilly, was issued a Fixed Penalty Notice and fined £90 for a Public Order offence.
"This will now go on his criminal record."
Parent Dai Evans, 34, was collecting two children when Jones was dressed as the clown.
Mr Evans said: "The teachers were in the yard and they moved the children away because he was doing it.
"Then we had a message on the school's app warning us that someone was dressed as a clown."
He added: "There is a time and place to have a laugh and a joke - but not outside a school on a Friday afternoon."
Jones, who previously worked as a labourer, refused to comment after accusing a friend of "grassing him up."
He said: "I'm not afraid to make enemies. I've paid my £90 and that's it."
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Chief Inspector Paul Staniforth said: "Gwent Police will not tolerate such behaviour and anyone seeking to cause distress and potential harm to anyone will be dealt with.
"In this case, not only is this man out of pocket, he will now have a criminal record which will impact his future, including any job opportunities.
"I hope this result sends a strong message to anyone thinking about taking part in this craze, that their five minutes of what they may think is fun really isn't worth it.
"Please be mindful and just think about the impact this is having on the public and police resources, not to mention the consequences for yourself and others."
A growing number of attacks have been reported as the trend grows. Police have warned that people who deliberately scare others could be arrested, and this is the first result of that warning.
A criminologist has revealed why people act differently when they put on costumes such as a clown mask, as the 'killer clown' craze spreads.
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.
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