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Posted by: Ian (D. Withers)
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Nicola Bulley TikTok sleuth arrested after snooping around village at night searching for missing mum
A social media influencer from Lancashire has been fined after snooping around the village of St Michael’s in search for missing mum Nicola Bulley.
By Sean Gleaves
15th Feb 2023
Dan Duffy, 36, posted a video of himself being arrested by Lancashire Police officers on his YouTube channel, Exploring with Danny.
The TikToker, who has thousands of followers, said in one video he had “actually been in people’s back gardens at night-time with torches” searching for Nicola.
The force said he was handed a fixed penalty notice under section 4 of the Public Order Act – fear or provocation of violence.
In a statement confirming a fine had been issued to Duffy, Lancashire Police said: “A 36-year-old man from Darwen was arrested under Section 4 of the Public Order Act – Fear/Provocation of Violence.
“He was given a Fixed Penalty Notice.”
Police condemn “wannabe detectives”
Duffy’s arrest and fine came after the lead investigator in the case, Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith, condemned amateur sleuths snooping around the village acting as “wannabe detectives”.
Dan Duffy posted a video of himself being arrested by Lancashire Police officers on his YouTube channel, called Exploring with Danny.
Since Nicola went missing, Duffy has posted a number of videos on social media site TikTok, as well as three others on his YouTube channel.
In the arrest video, he said: “Hi guys, I’m being arrested on a public order offence. They’ve had an allegation.
“As you all know I was in search to find the missing woman Nicola but this is what this country’s turning into. No freedom of speech.”
The clip later displays the message: “20 hours in the police station arrested on a public order offence for searching for missing woman Nicola Bulley.”
Nicola Bulley, 45, remains missing after disappearing while walking her Springer Spaniel Willow in the village of St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, after she dropped her two daughters – aged six and nine – at school on January 27
In previous clips posted to his channel, Duffy said he joined the search because he “wants some answers” and there are “a lot of conspiracy theories flying around on the internet”.
Police said no other person had been handed a fixed penalty notice in relation to the search.
Lead investigator in the search for Nicola Bulley, Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith, condemned amateur sleuths snooping around the village of St Michael’s acting as “wannabe detectives”
A BBC reporter asked Det Sup Smith if “social media video-makers and wannabe detectives have been an annoyance or a hindrance in the inquiry”.
“Yes,” she said. “It has significantly distracted the investigation. In 29 years’ police service I’ve never seen anything like it.
“Some of it’s been quite shocking and really hurtful to the family.
“Obviously, we can’t disregard anything and we’ve reviewed everything that’s come in but of course it has distracted us significantly.”
PLUS
ANOTHER Two arrested for “inappropriate emails and phone calls”
Wyre Council announced on Monday (February 13) it had removed councillors’ contact details from its website due to “inappropriate emails and phone calls” about Ms Bulley’s disappearance.
A 49-year-old man from Manchester and a 20-year-old woman from Oldham were later arrested on suspicion of malicious communications offences.
The force added the man had been bailed until May 12 and inquiries were “ongoing”.
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