Ghost hunter claims to have captured an image of one of the most violent poltergeists in Europe
Ghoul was hanged in the 16th century for raping a child and is said to have haunted Pontefract home for past half century
BRITAIN’S most violent poltergeist may finally have been caught on camera, a ghost hunter believes.
The Black Monk of Pontefract is said to have haunted a family home in the West Yorkshire town for the past half-century.
Terrifying incidents blamed on the spectre include a 14-year-old schoolgirl being dragged up the stairs, family members being slapped and photos being slashed.
The terraced house is built near to where the town once had its gallows.
The Black Monk is said to have lived in the 16th century and was found guilty and then hung to death for the rape and murder of a girl.
A photo taken by ghost hunter Pete Boulton appears to show the shape of a ghostly figure peering out of a mirror.
The ghoulish apparition appears in the same spot that the Black Monk, also known as Mr Nobody or Fred, is said to regularly stand and was where 14-year-old Diane Pritchard was dragged by an invisible hand.
Pete, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, said: "We arrived around 7pm in the evening and began wandering around the house.
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"I began taking photos like usually do at a new location and I took quite a few of the hallway near the stairs. I was just snapping away at random at the house, not at anything in particular.
"I took three or four pictures and one was particularly dark so when I got home I put it on the computer to brighten it up.
"[It was as I brightened it up that] I noticed there was a weird shape in the mirror. No one from the group was downstairs [at the time]. So it couldn't have been anyone from the group.
"To be honest I was a bit reluctant to share it as it seemed too good to be true. It looks like a figure. But that was it, as soon as I saw it I shared it on social media.
"It wouldn't have freaked me out if I had seen it there and then [in the house]. But it might have freaked a few of the others out. I would have got quite excited by it as that's why we are there.
"It came as a surprise. It's difficult to say what it is. There's still a chance it is just pareidolia [seeing faces in shapes] however I asked other people what they could see but I didn't tell them what I had seen.
"Most saw what I did. With pareidolia, people usually see different things – that's why you can dismiss stuff usually. But not this one as everyone saw the same thing.
"I haven't dismissed it due to this and certainly to me it's unexplained.
"There is no evidence it definitely is paranormal. I hope that it's a genuine capture [of something paranormal]. I would love that but I've been doing it that long I am realistic about my expectations."
Jean and Joe Pritchard moved into 30 East Drive with their two children Phillip, 15, and Diane, 12, in August 1966 and allegedly began experiencing paranormal occurrences almost immediately.
Inexplicable events were said to include green foam appearing in the taps, objects being thrown around and levitating, photographs being slashed and even family members being slapped and shoved downstairs.
It is said that later on in their occupation of the haunted house, Diane's hair stood on end and she was dragged upstairs – the same stairs that can be seen in Pete's picture – apparently leaving finger marks on her throat.
Pete said: "Everyone knows that location as it is very well known. However we didn't have a majorly active experience. The odd thing happened but nothing necessarily paranormal.
"It's a fascinating location, very atmospheric. It's an iconic place – that's why [ghost hunters] want to go.
"The poltergeist case there is very famous and that's what attracted me to it, but I didn't expect much.
"There are films about the house, though I didn't experience anything on that level. I would have left pretty sharpish. It's only interesting up to a point."
The haunting at 30 East Drive was the subject of the 2012 horror movie When The Lights Went Out and was investigated for the Halloween special of Most Haunted Live in 2015.
The house remains open for bookings – though Ouija boards and exorcisms are banned on the property.
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