Security patrols have returned to the Lancashire village where Nicola Bulley vanished as locals have pleaded with social media ghouls to stay away. The 45-year-old mum went missing in January and was sadly found dead three weeks later.
Residents in St Michael's on Wyre, the sleepy village which became the centre of an international media storm after Nicola's disappearance, say they are continuing to be harassed by social media users filming for YouTube or TikTok.
Members of the public have asked Spencer Sutcliffe and his security firm to provide 'reassurance' for locals, Lancs Live reports. As the search for Nicola continued, Spencer and his team patrolled the area and advised people 'of what to do and what not to do', alongside Lancashire Police's dispersal order which gave them extra powers to remove people from the area.
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One village spokesperson told LancsLive: "One b****** turned up and was here all day, harassing everybody and I mean, everybody. He'd been seen several times, I'd reported him at half past two to the police, they couldn't find him."
Villagers said that on the morning of Sunday, March 5, while out walking they noticed a social media user on a bridge, acting 'coy' saying 'he's a local'. On social media channels, TikTokers and YouTubers can be seen approaching homes and businesses of locals, asking about Nicola.
One person said: "I've had enough, we've been through this and we've all had enough. They claim they're here to get justice for Nicola, that they're journalists but it's disgusting.
"I can't cope with this. Reality is, to having me this morning, walking the whole entire village, to going and physically turning up at people's doorstep and they're getting away with it. This cannot continue."
Following continuing visits to the area by armchair detectives, Spencer and his security team have returned to the village 'all times of the day and all times of the night' because the villagers 'don't feel safe'. They added: "We as a village can't go about our daily business anymore.
"We live here, we've got to move forward as a village. It's a horrific thing to have to say, but ultimately, Nicola's death has happened and we have to move forward."
This week, TikTok star Curtis Arnold revealed on his social media that he had been arrested by Lancashire Constabulary. A police spokesperson said a man had been arrested on suspicion of malicious communications offences and perverting the course of justice earlier this week.
It was in relation to footage shot from inside a police cordon. The 34 year old from Worcestershire said he is innocent.
A police spokesperson said: "The man was held on Wednesday morning with assistance from West Mercia Police and has since been released on bail with conditions. Our priority is, and has always been, to support Nicola's family and the wider community in St Michael's. We hope this arrest provides reassurance that we take concerns seriously and will act on them."
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