Creepy Malcolm
APPEAL FOR INFORMATION - CAN YOU HELP?
Police are appealing for witnesses after the disappearance of a child in Hulsted, Lancashire.
Alice Stanley has been missing from her home since approximately 6.15pm on 10th October 2023. She is described as having shoulder-length brown, curly hair and green eyes. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing blue waterproof boots and a green, floral raincoat with ears on the hood.
Officers are eager to speak to anyone who may have been in the vicinity at the time or who can help identify a man sighted in the area on the evening of 10th October. He is described as a tall, caucasian male, wearing light-coloured overalls and a peaked cap.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Hulsted police.
‘Creepy Malcolm’: Fact or Fiction?
Mon 30 Oct 2023 11:30 GMT
www.fringenews.net
Every town has its urban legend. The small northern town of Hulsted is no different, but what happens when local folklore gets mixed up in a real-life mystery?
Hazia Nadeem investigates the vanishing of a little girl, a myth that made the jump to prime-time news and the mystery of ‘Creepy Malcolm’.
It’s every parent\'s worst nightmare. A young girl disappears from her home, plucked from the face of the earth, leaving no trace. An intensive search ends with no leads or suspects, and a media circus descends to watch the drama play out in real time.
This is the disappearance of five-year-old Alice Stanley. A tragedy that has rocked the quiet Lancashire town of Hulsted, and captured the nation\'s attention.
After almost a month, and one of the largest investigations in the north since the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, there is still no sign of Alice.
Authorities maintain there is no evidence of foul play, but faith in their abilities is beginning to waver.
With the unrelenting media coverage and a lack of police progress comes the inevitable rise of the armchair detective. An army of online sleuths who assemble to spread rumors, conspiracy theories and familial accusations on social media.
But there is one improbable name that crops up repeatedly in relation to this case. A name that originates from the town of Hulsted itself and is born from one of their own, unique legends.
That name is ‘Creepy Malcolm’.
From: Haz Nadeem <hazia.nadeem@fringenews.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2024 1:12 PM
To: Nev Jones <neville.jones@fringenews.net>
Subject: RE: An update would be useful
Calm yourself, I’m on track for the deadline. I’m not holding you back anymore, remember? I can no longer tarnish your precious rep.
I’ll upload a near-final draft of the copy tomorrow.
I’ve added some raw footage to the cloud drive and before you ask…yes, I’ve included transcripts. The footage might work for social, or the podcast guys might want the audio for atmosphere or something. There is a lot of background noise though, the little brats were on break.
Don’t use anything that shows the kids’ faces, I didn’t get permission.
I have a couple more interviews tomorrow, then I’m gonna finish up and head back to the city and the 21st century. Not a moment too soon either. It\'s a little The Hills Have Eyes around here if you get me.
So that gives you another day to get your stuff from the flat. Please use it.
H
Transcript: VID-20231026-WA006.mp4
Hazia: Hey kids, what are you playing?
Child 1: We’re playing Creepy Malcolm.
Hazia: I don’t know that one. Can you show me how to play?
Child 2: Yes, you can be Malcolm because you’ve got black hair and brown skin.
Child 1: You’re not supposed to say that!
Child 3: You go in the middle. Then you have to cover your eyes.
Child 2: He does though, I’ve seen him. His skin is just like hers!
Child 1: You haven’t seen him, that’s [REDACTED]. His dad is from India.
Child 3: Then we sing and we have to spin you round.
Child 2: No, it’s Malcolm. He sits under that tree over there and eats mud.
Child 3: When we get to the end of the song you can open your eyes and we run away.
Hazia: Okay, and then what?
Child 1: And then you have to catch us. You pretend you’re stealing us away, like he did with Alice.
Hazia: Did someone tell you that? That Malcolm took Alice?
Child 3: No, [REDACTED] saw it.
Child 2: I did! She followed him and now she lives in the hills and eats spiders.
Child 1: Shut up, that’s just a scary story. Mrs Watts says Malcolm isn’t real.
Hazia: Okay, I think I’m ready to play. Eyes closed, off you go.
Child 1, 2 and 3 (singing): One…two…three… Creepy Malcolm, Creepy Malcolm, coming up behind ya. Creepy Malcolm, Creepy Malcolm, eating bugs and spiders. Where did he come from, where has he been? Creepy Malcolm, Creepy Malcolm, if you see him, scream!
‘Creepy Malcolm’: Fact or Fiction?
Mon 30 Oct 2023 11:30 GMT
www.fringenews.net
Walking around the streets of Hulsted now, it’s like a ghost town. People hurry between their jobs and their homes, avoiding the TV cameras and journalists. No children play in the streets. They walk home from school in groups, always with an adult.
Alice’s disappearance has traumatized this once tight-knit community, turning them inward, driving a wedge between them.
There are still some people on the streets though, some faces with a ready smile and the willingness to talk. I come across Shane loitering near a public park in the mid-afternoon. He’s in his mid-twenties and without a job, he has no place to go. Austerity hit Hulsted hard. He leans against a rusted railing by the park entrance, smoking and talking with his friends.
I ask him if he’d heard the stories of Creepy Malcolm before they were in the news. He wheezes a laugh that becomes a coughing fit.
“Everyone’s heard that stuff,” he says. “It’s a rite of passage ‘round here, innit? They say, ‘Creepy Malcolm is coming. He’ll come and take you off into the hills if you don’t feed him.’ Kids stuff. It’s mad the way it’s gotten with it now.”
I ask him if he’s ever seen Creepy Malcolm himself. He says no, but he knows someone who has.
“My cousin used to talk about this lad at his school. He swore it was Malcolm. Things got out of hand and he got in some trouble for it. The police got involved. I was still in nappies then but my sister told me about it.”
As he tells me this, his friends melt away into separate groups, talking amongst themselves. They don’t look frightened, but they aren’t hanging around to hear the rest. Maybe they’ve heard this story enough.
“No one liked this kid because he was a real scruff,” Shane tells me. “He would be hunched over on the ground picking ants up off the floor and eating them. Like in the song. Maybe that’s where it came from.”
From: Haz Nadeem <hazia.nadeem@fringenews.net>
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2024 4.58 PM
To: Nev Jones <neville.jones@fringenews.net>
Subject: RE: An update would be useful
I found the case file. I\'ve scanned and uploaded a copy to the drive. There is also a video link for extra background/context.
BTW if you\'re so concerned with keeping things professional, you can start by minding your own business. My medication and my ‘well-being’ are no longer your concern.
H
Missing persons form
Date: 10 Oct 1993
Incident number: 7696464
Investigating officer: PC. James Harwood
Name: Malcolm (surname unknown)
Age: 10
Race: Black or Asian
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 4’00’’ approx.
Last seen: 9 Oct, 4pm approx.
Narrative:
Subject was last observed in the vicinity of Stand Tower, Hulsted Hill. He was wearing a light grey jacket, brown corduroy trousers (ripped at the knees) and black running shoes. Subject was reported missing from St. Hilda\'s primary school by his classmates Michael O’Donnell, David Woodhouse and Edward Taylor. The children had been playing in the area of Hulsted Hill after school when the subject disappeared.
YouTube.com/ShiversTop5s
Top 5 cryptids you’ve never heard of
267k views - 2 years ago
Number 4: Old Trash
The scenic vistas of the west Pennine moors. A beautiful but rugged environment located a few miles north of Manchester, UK.
The challenging terrain attracts hikers and fell runners alike. Adventurers who want to test themselves amongst the hills and valleys, and those who seek isolation underneath a big sky.
But if you’re tempted to head out there, you might want to think twice. The windswept landscape can be harsh and is home to more than just stunning views.
Since the 17th century, tales abound of a mysterious black creature named ‘Old Trash’. A terrifying beast that stalks the ditches of Hulsted Hill, situated at the southern tip of these moors.
Its appearance has been described as that of a giant and vicious dog, with coarse black hair hanging long across its hunched shoulders, and restless yellow eyes that spin in their sockets.
Legend warns that an encounter with the monster is an ill omen that augurs death, for you or those close to you.
Over the centuries, ‘Old Trash’ has taken the blame for many horrific deaths and unsolved disappearances in the area.
The first such report concerned the gruesome death of John Hall, a local farmer\'s son found brutally mutilated and dumped in a ditch on top of Hulsted Hill. Though records indicate a local woman was eventually executed for John’s murder, many speculate that his injuries were too horrific to have been caused by human hands. Many believe that only a large, wild animal could inflict such terrible wounds.
Other accounts from the period describe a spate of unexplained sightings. Reports of dark figures roaming the hills, slaughtering livestock and menacing the townsfolk of Hulsted. All of which fed into the local legend and prompted many to lay the blame for John Hall’s death on ‘Old Trash’ himself.
More recently, the disappearance of a wealthy mill owner\'s daughter during the Industrial Revolution prompted a frenzied search across the moors. Mill workers, townspeople and even the local army regiment joined the search. Though no sign of her was ever found, many of those involved told haunting tales. Stories of a shadow following them across the heath and a hulking black creature lurking in the mist…
Transcript: AUD-20231027-WA013.wav
Recorded interview with Det. Insp James Harwood (retired)
Hazia: Do you mind if I record this?
Harwood: Go ahead, go ahead. I’ve nothing to hide and you bought the drinks.
Hazia: Thank you for agreeing to meet.
Harwood: Of course, it’s the least I can do. Anything that keeps that little girl\'s name in the papers, or internet, whatever it is nowadays. Though I\'m not sure how else I can help.
Hazia: I\'m looking for context really. Any insight into the investigation.
Harwood: Oh I have been out of the loop a good few years now.
Hazia: Sure, of course. But I don’t mean just about now. Anything from your experience, or about the other disappearances over the years. It all adds to the overall picture.
Harwood: Well I\'ll do what I can but what other disappearances are you referring to?
Hazia: Well, you’d know better than me. I understand Hulsted is no stranger to tragedy, but I’m particularly interested in hearing about Malcolm.
Harwood: Oh Christ… not this again.
Hazia: I’m sorry?
Harwood: No, I am. I thought this was serious. I thought you were here to help that family. Not tell fairy tales and ghost stories. You lot are all the same.
Hazia: Excuse me?
Harwood: Journalists… I mean journalists. Don\'t start with that.
Hazia: Of course, Mr Harwood. I can assure you I’m only interested in the truth. There is certainly a lot of hearsay around, maybe a little embellishment, but I wouldn\'t be doing my job if I didn\'t pursue every lead. Wouldn\'t you agree?
Harwood: What are you getting at?
Hazia: I understand you were the officer who filed the missing person report on Malcolm?
Harwood: You’re wasting your time. This is playground stuff, love. It’s just a story like The Boogeyman or Old Trash. People can’t face up to the horrific shit that goes on under their noses. They feel helpless so they make up stories to feel better about it. But they do no good for Mrs Stanley or her little girl. You shouldn’t be encouraging it.
Hazia: I appreciate your view, but I’ve seen a copy of your report. In 1993 you did investigate a missing child named Malcolm, correct?
Harwood: I filed a report, yes, but there was nothing to investigate. It was kids playing tricks, wasting our time.
Hazia: So Malcolm was found?
Harwood: He was never missing. This is my point, things get twisted when you let this conspiracy stuff creep in. It muddies the waters.
Hazia: If Malcolm wasn’t missing then maybe I could talk to him, put the whole thing to rest? Could you tell me where I can find him?
Harwood: You don’t understand, love. There was no Malcolm. Not in that school or any school around here. Certainly not up on that hill. No one who met that description. No parents or families looking for anyone like him. We checked here, there and everywhere. He didn’t exist.
From: Prof. Robert Lambert <r.lambert@unimanchester.ac.uk>
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2024 1:12 PM
To: Haz Nadeem <hazia.nadeem@fringenews.net>; Nev Jones <neville.jones@fringenews.net>
Subject: RE: Hulsted folklore
Hi Hazia,
Thank you for your email and your kind words. It\'s always good to hear from someone who has read my book, you\'re a rare beast!
It’s a shame I can’t thank you in person. I\'m currently in the United States on a research trip and won\'t be returning until January at the earliest.
I\'d be very interested to chat with you about your work in Hulsted when I return. Maybe we could arrange something then?
In the meantime, some answers to your questions:
- Of course, I’ve heard the ‘Creepy Malcolm’ urban myth both at home and now, unfortunately, in the news. It’s an interesting one. Some of the details are relatively modern but generally, it follows a well-worn formula for this part of the world. The hill and the moors that surround it can be unforgiving, especially for the ill-equipped. The land has a rich industrial history, not to mention the centuries of settlements that existed in the area before that. It’s fertile ground for the macabre and the unexplained. You\'ve read the book so you\'ll know about ‘Old Trash’. Essentially a werewolf story but, though the protagonist takes a different shape, the basic premise remains the same. A creature that portends the death or disappearance of a child. At various times over the centuries, these things have also been blamed on witches or ‘grey men’.
- I have to agree, our town is an unusual place! It has a strong sense of community which unfortunately cultivates an attitude of distrust toward perceived ‘outsiders’. Hulsted isn\'t unique in its superstitions, or even its enthusiasm to leap to a paranormal explanation when a more mundane one will do. It is at the more extreme end of the spectrum though. They hang tight to their legends and traditions. In my view it’s all part of a wider rejection of the social order that has failed them. There is little trust in science, authority or government in our corner of the world. I’m not sure I blame them.
- I’m not surprised that these things have resurfaced, in light of the current tragic circumstances. The loss of a child must be incomprehensible at the best of times. With such strength of feeling, people\'s minds will look for answers or patterns and often find them where there are none. Though I must admit, the possibility that Malcolm really existed is intriguing. I\'d be very interested to hear what you’ve learnt about him.
I hope I\'ve been useful and please do reach out if you have any more questions.
I must say, I envy you. It must be fascinating to witness events that will one day themselves become part of folklore. It’s just my luck that I should be halfway across the world when something actually happens!
Good luck with your piece.
Kind regards,
Robert
Transcript: AUD-20231028-WA028.wav
Recorded interview with Michael O’Donnell
Hazia: I’m recording now. Thanks again for agreeing to take this call.
Michael: Sure, but Mum will be back soon. I don’t have long.
Hazia: Of course, I’ll get to the point. Starting at the beginning, in 1993 you were what… nine years old?
Michael: I was ten.
Hazia: …and you went to school, St. Hilda’s, with a boy called Malcolm. Is that correct?
Michael: Malcolm was there, yes.
Hazia: He was your friend?
Michael: No. He didn’t have any friends. The other kids either made fun of him or ignored him completely. He was dirty and he smelt bad. His clothes were old, always ripped and damp, and he ate insects off the ground. That’s where I used to see him every morning, picking up ants in the playground and eating them.
Hazia: But you spoke to him?
Micheal: Not until that last day.
Hazia: The day he went missing. Can you tell me what happened?
Micheal: He was in the playground, as usual, eating off the concrete. My friend Eddie kicked him into a puddle as he went past. Eddie could be mean like that. He got worse as he got older too.
Hazia: You felt sorry for Malcolm?
Micheal: Yes. He looked awful. It was obvious that his family or whoever didn’t care about him. Mum told me you have to help people like that. I had some crisps in my bag and I gave them to him. He wolfed them down like he hadn’t eaten in weeks.
Hazia: He spoke to you after that?
Michael: Not really.
Hazia: But he told you his name?
Michael: I can’t remember. He must’ve done.
Hazia: So how did you end up on the hill?
Michael: I asked if he wanted to come play with us. Like you said, I felt sorry for him. Me, Eddie and Taylor used to go up the hill after school. There was a little clearing in the trees where we would make dens, light fires, that sort of thing. I thought he might like it. I said I had more crisps.
Hazia: He followed you there?
Michael: No. He ignored me and went back to eating off the floor. I thought he wouldn’t come. But later, when we got to the hill, he was already there waiting for us. He stayed a while and I gave him some more crisps, but he mainly ignored us. He was kicking around in the dirt as though he was looking for something. After a bit, he said he was going home. That’s one thing I remember him saying definitely… home. But he walked up the hill instead of down. Have you been up there yet?
Hazia: Not yet.
Micheal: Well there definitely aren\'t any houses up there. It’s barren. I couldn’t let him walk off onto the moors alone, it was October and starting to get dark. So we followed him and tried to convince him to come back.
Hazia: You followed him up the hill?
Micheal: That\'s right. You must\'ve seen the stone tower at least? You can see it for miles around. Well behind it there’s this big ditch, like a crater. It’s deep, you barely know it\'s there until you\'re right on top of it, and there are huge boulders poking out of the ground. He told me that’s where he lived.
Hazia: You left him there?
Michael: Yes.
Hazia: You weren’t worried about him anymore?
Micheal: We left because we were scared. There was someone else there. A man.
Hazia: Did you recognise him? Can you describe him?
Micheal: No, it was almost dark. He was in shadow but he looked like he worked in a factory or something. He had on some sort of overalls and a cap pulled down over his eyes. He seemed angry. He had a dog with him too. He took Malcolm into the hill.
Hazia: I’m sorry, I’m not sure I understand, into the hill?
Michael: I don’t know how else to describe it. They were there one minute, down at the bottom of the crater, and gone the next. I felt sick and dizzy. There was a terrible smell, like ammonia. It stung my eyes and made me light-headed. The others felt it too, so we ran away.
Hazia: Could Malcolm have done the same? Is it possible you didn\'t see him run away?
Michael: No, listen, I know what happened. I know what I saw. You\'re starting to sound like the police now. I thought you were looking for them, Malcolm and the girl?
Hazia: I believe you Michael, I do. But I’ve read the report, the one you filed with Officer Harwood. These details aren\'t mentioned. Did you tell the police?
Michael: Of course I did. Have you met Harwood? You must know what he\'s like, what they’re all like. He thought we were a waste of time, making it all up. Even if he believed us, I doubt he’d have spent much energy looking for Malcolm. Or for anyone who looked like him.
Hazia: You think the colour of Malcolm\'s skin meant the police took the report less seriously?
Michael: Don’t you? Listen, I want them to find that little girl as much as anyone. But do you think there would be this much attention if she had dark skin?
Hazia: Well what about the teachers? You said Malcolm was in your school, there\'s no record of him. None of the teachers or parents remember him.
Michael: Of course they don\'t.
Hazia: What do you mean?
Michael: He was inconvenient. A neglected child they didn’t want to notice. It was easier for them to go on pretending he never existed.
Hazia: What about the recent reports? Sightings of a boy who fits Malcolm’s description. Do you have any idea why people are seeing him now?
Michael: ….
Hazia: Michael?
Michael: I think you should leave it.
Hazia: Leave what?
Michael: The whole thing. Leave it alone. They’re not gonna find him. They’re not gonna find Alice. They never do.
Hazia: What do you mean ‘never do’? Who else didn’t they find?
Michael: I have to go. Mum’s back. I’m not supposed to be doing this.
Hazia: Can we speak again? Maybe we could meet? You could show me where it happened, help me understand.
Michael: No. I\'m never going back up there.
Hazia: Please just one more thing…
Michael: No I’m sorry, I have to go. Just…if you see him…don\'t follow. I\'m sorry, I can\'t anymore.
From: Haz Nadeem <hazia.nadeem@fringenews.net>
Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2024 11:09 AM
To: Nev Jones <neville.jones@fringenews.net>
Subject: RE: Good work
Hi,
I tried to call you.
I added the last bits of audio and the final draft of the copy to the drive yesterday, I guess you got it? If you need to make changes go ahead. I trust you.
I’m sorry it was a little late. I got wrapped up in something and things got a little hectic.
I think I’m gonna stick around here another day or so. There\'s some more background I wanna chase up, the podcast guys will be grateful I think. There have been a few more odd sightings. It’s probably nothing but I have that little niggle telling me this one isn’t over.
And I didn\'t even get to check out the hill yet. People are telling me I should stay away so, you know me, I\'m heading up there later.
If I get some good stuff maybe we could work on a follow-up?
I guess let\'s see how this first piece does for now.
I’ll be back on Monday. If you want to, we can talk then. I\'ll be on my best behaviour, I promise.
Let me know when the article goes live.
H
Fears grow for missing journalist
BBC News
Mon 20 Nov Oct 2023 09:45 GMT
Police are appealing for information surrounding the disappearance of a woman from Manchester.
Hazia Nadeem, an investigative journalist for fringenews.net, has been missing for over three weeks.
Ms Nadeem, 26, was last seen in the town of Hulsted, Lancashire on the afternoon of Saturday 28th October. Her final movements are unknown, but CCTV captured her walking north along Hazel Road towards Hulsted centre that afternoon.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said they believe she may still be in the area, and are \"keen to locate” the journalist amid growing concerns for her welfare.
Ms Nadeem, whose work chronicled the social challenges facing northern communities in the wake of government austerity, had been in Hulsted covering the search for Alice Stanley. A child who went missing in the area earlier this year.
Despite speculation, authorities are keen to emphasise that Ms Nadeem was not involved in their investigation and there is currently nothing to link the two cases.
Police are urging anyone with any information, or who may have been in the area at that time, to contact them by calling 101.
YouTube.com/ShiversTop5s
Top ten mysterious disappearances caught on CCTV
123k views - 3 hours ago
Number 8: Hazia Nadeem
The strange case of Hazia Nadeem began in October 2023, when she disappeared from a small town in Lancashire, UK.
In an eerie coincidence Hazia, who was a journalist by trade, vanished while investigating another mysterious case, that of the disappearance of Alice Stanley. Neither Hazia nor Alice have yet been located.
Hazia was last seen at approximately two p.m. on Saturday 28th October. Local residents observed the journalist leaving her accommodation and walking north along Hazel Road, towards the slopes of Hulsted Hill.
Fellow employees at fringenews.net stated that she had arranged to spend the day completing background work and interviews for her upcoming article, and planned to return home to Manchester later that evening.
Friends and colleagues became concerned when she didn\'t show up for work the following Monday, and she was reported missing on 31st October.
Struggling for leads, investigators pored over CCTV footage of the surrounding area, hoping the cameras may have captured her final movements. All they could find were these short, grainy images.
The clip shows an individual believed to be Hazia walking alone in the direction of Hulsted town centre. It’s unclear if she is distressed or disorientated in any way, but the footage shows no evidence of foul play at this point in her journey.
In recent months, police have indicated that difficulties in both her career and personal life may have affected Hazia\'s mental state and could be a factor in her disappearance. Despite the unsettling coincidence, they are adamant they have found no links to the case of Alice Stanley.
This strange footage is the last confirmed sighting of Hazia and this mysterious case remains unsolved.
If you have any information that could help, you can contact Greater Manchester Police at the link in the description.
Police are eager to speak to anyone who may have been in the area at the time of Hazia’s disappearance. They are particularly interested in speaking to the person or persons who appear at the edge of the frame towards the end of this clip. This person looks to be small in stature, possibly a child or an adolescent, and appears to be walking towards Hazia in the opposite direction.
What do you think?
Keep an eye on my channel for more updates on this case and let me know your theories in the comments.
‘Creepy Malcolm’: Fact or Fiction?
Mon 30 Oct 2023 11:30 GMT
www.fringenews.net
Hulsted is a town reeling, against the ropes. Not just from Alice\'s tragic disappearance and the attention that followed, but also from the years of economic neglect at the hands of its own government. From its metaphorical isolation in the north, behind the red wall, and from the weaponisation of culture and identity which turns neighbour against neighbour.
At the mercy of forces they cannot change, and many don\'t understand, it\'s no surprise they\'re seeing monsters and searching for deeper truths. Older ones. The ones their grandfathers or their great-grandfathers held to.
But what if it’s all true, and the monsters we create to help us make sense of a senseless world, are just that. Monsters. As real and unknowable as the forces that shape our everyday lives, and just as indifferent to our suffering.
In Hulsted, it’s spectral children, shadowy black dogs and child snatchers. In your town, it’s probably something different, but it’s there. A swirling vortex of malevolent intentions. Some real, some in our minds, all destructive.
Our own personal reality and our perception of it is the only truth we have left to cling to. The people of Hulsted have given their monster a name. It isn’t a name you or I might choose, it isn’t one we recognise, but the monster menaces them just the same.
Their only hope is the universal one. The hope that things can change, that nothing lasts forever. The chance that maybe we can escape, break free, and deviate from the norm before we become little more than another part of the story.
About the Author
Ash Egan writes horror stories. His work has featured in the Leicester Writes Short Story Prize 2024, the 2k Terrors Short Story Competition 2023, and Suburban Witchcraft Magazine. He lives in Bury, Manchester with his wife and son. You can following him on Instagram: @hyeana.legs, and on Bluesky: @f0x4sh.bsky.social.