Wivenhoe: Policeman bumps into 'Beast of Essex'

7:00am Wednesday 28th January 2009 in Features By Emily Parsons

The Beast is back!

The latest sighting of the elusive Beast of Essex was made by an on-duty police officer – as he headed back to base in Wivenhoe High Street.

The panther-like beast has been dividing opinion for years, with many people believing sightings are the result of overactive imaginations.

But its latest appearance shows police are taking it seriously, as a team of officers was immediately dispatched to hunt for the dark-coloured big cat when their colleague raised the alarm.

They spent hours searching without success, after the unnamed bobby said it growled at him before running off along the side of Wivenhoe police station in the early hours of yesterday.

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Comments(22)

Laughter is the best medicine1 says...
7:39am Wed 28 Jan 09

They spent hours searching without success, after the unnamed bobby said it growled at him before running off along the side of Wivenhoe police station in the early hours of yesterday.

Its that beast crazyone again out on the loose at night.
must have escaped again.

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Nobnee says...
7:55am Wed 28 Jan 09

Sorry this cannot be true a policeman in Wivenhoe….

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The Enforcer says...
10:52am Wed 28 Jan 09

Is it April 1st?

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Gideon Smythe says...
11:55am Wed 28 Jan 09

To be fair Nobnee, he was off-duty, so really just 'a person in Wivenhoe'.

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The Enforcer says...
12:52pm Wed 28 Jan 09

The story actually says he was on duty. Anyway what a load of rubbish all this is. This "Panther" has managed to go from Tiptree to Mersea to Wivenhoe and god knows where else without being injured, leaving evidence, e.g. Mutilated chickens!, and it hasnt been seen anywhere long enough for a positive i.d. Who has seen the "Panther"? The same people who have seen the Loch Ness Monster and Elvis Presley at a petrol station in Elmstead Market?

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Frank En'stein says...
1:38pm Wed 28 Jan 09

When i first see the headline i thought to myself "OH YEH WHATS IVAN/IAN BURIT DOING IN WIVENHOE"

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crazyone says...
1:57pm Wed 28 Jan 09

Does he know his way there? Is he safe anywhere else? out of his watch area.

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Gideon Smythe says...
2:03pm Wed 28 Jan 09

I encountered a helpful member of staff at Liverpool Street Station this morning. I had my camera with me, but the picture is rather blury and inconclusive.

I think that's worthy of a news story.

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ivan burit says...
7:53pm Wed 28 Jan 09

Frank En'stein,
shouting again,
clacton says...
1:38pm Wed 28 Jan 09
When i first see the headline i thought to myself "OH YEH WHATS IVAN/IAN BURIT DOING IN WIVENHOE"

Thanks for your support guy`s,
impersonation is the finest form of flattery.

I should take a management fee from you for your efforts.
SKY blue thinking that is.

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Jerry61 says...
8:18pm Wed 28 Jan 09

I'm not sure what's more unlikely. Coming across a panther or spotting a copper on the beat!!

I wouldn't be at all surprised if there was a big cat/s living in the area, and with all the rabbits around the university there's plenty of food for them. Good luck to them if they are out there.

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Laughter is the best medicine1 says...
10:07pm Wed 28 Jan 09

They are easy to indentify j61.
one is sleek and (politicaly correct) "dark in colour"
the other looks like a vehicle recovery operative with a hat, but will remind you of your legal obligations if its deemed needed.
In our community, we have plenty of the second type, and friendly enough to us residents.
They will not bite like the former type, but by jingo, they can and will grab hold of you if you are being a bit naughty, their grip is ferocious, and they will not let go.
If you think of it, both are kept behind bars of a sort, both will chase you if you run, but its only the 2nd that has reinforcements of their own kind.

Only one of the (politicaly correct) type coloured one has been seen at a time elswhere, so is no good to man nor "beast" as he patrols on his own.

Oh, and our 2nd type stop and talk to us residents in our community.

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Frank En'stein says...
5:17am Thu 29 Jan 09

Wrong again burit, the saying is "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

NOT "Impersonation is the finest form of flattery"
Dear oh dear, another thing you've got wrong, add it to the other things you've got wrong like (you're popular) or (you got stitched up when you bought your shed) ha ha love that one.

WHAT A PLONKER YOU ARE!


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crazyone says...
8:59am Thu 29 Jan 09

Look at todays local at the letters Frank E and see just how popular he is getting in "HIS TOWN!" LOL

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ivan burit says...
10:56am Thu 29 Jan 09

crazyone wrote:
Look at todays local at the letters Frank E and see just how popular he is getting in "HIS TOWN!" LOL
if you read last weeks letters, you did keep very quite about them..

HO HUM

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Laughter is the best medicine1 says...
11:04am Thu 29 Jan 09

"NOT "Impersonation is the finest form of flattery"
Dear oh dear, another thing you've got wrong, add it to the other things you've got wrong"

Ok politicaly correct person.
i actually meant what i said, but it was yourself that did`nt like it.

Ho Hum.

now we know your weaknesses, you dont like seeing things wrong, schplet or overwise.
now let me see...Hmmmm
is there a medical term used for that...Hmmmmm
is there a generic term used for that localy...Hmmmmm

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Frank En'stein says...
12:49pm Thu 29 Jan 09

Two more spelling mistakes in that little outburst burit.
Politicaly is spelt POLITICALLY.
Localy is spelt LOCALLY.
You try to tell us you were some kind of aerospace engineer, oh you most probably worked there but i bet you cleaned the toilets or swept up.
Dear oh dear you REALLY are a plonker.


OYEZ OYEZ OYEZ!
Here is ye news.........

Ex bog cleaner **** Romford cabbie spends the retirement lump sum on a shed in a shanty town........

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Gideon Smythe says...
1:54pm Thu 29 Jan 09

Panther in Wivenhoe? A painter more like. Eh? Eh?

Oh, hang on, that doesn't work at all.

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Sdapeze says...
5:13pm Thu 29 Jan 09

What are you lot on about? Sadly I have just spent time reading through all your drivel and have come out none the wiser. Is there a black panther or is the moon really made of cheese? Do panthers growl? I reckon said copper bumped into some plug-ugly woman on a dark night. That's all it was. Next!

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Laughter is the best medicine1 says...
5:59pm Thu 29 Jan 09

Gideon Smythe wrote:
Panther in Wivenhoe? A painter more like. Eh? Eh? Oh, hang on, that doesn't work at all.
As i`m not one of the boating elite, is the name of a small boat a painter, or was the sight of a full milk cheese moon too much for me?

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gillymr says...
6:55pm Thu 29 Jan 09

I believe in the beast of Essex, as I have seen it myself. I told only a couple of people at the time. It was about 3 years ago and was on the road towards Rowhedge and heading across the marshes, in the direction of the University. I was interested to note soon after that it had been sighted nearby and now again.

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Frank En'stein says...
8:04pm Thu 29 Jan 09

There may be another beast of Essex out there somewhere, but the original is alive and real.

He's always got plenty to say (though it's mostly rubbish) and he's been living in jaywick (sadly) for a little over six years now. You must know who i mean.

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Gideon Smythe says...
8:27pm Thu 29 Jan 09

To clarify, I don't think small boats were called 'painters' but they will be from now on. A larger boat is sometimes referred to as a 'Smack' by the way. Which begs the question "What about the children?".

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