Northampton Clown is unmasked - as 22-year-old student who 'just wanted to amuse people'

The notorious 'Northampton Clown', who became an internet sensation since roaming the streets, has finally been unmasked.

The creepy figure, who delighted and terrified Northampton residents with his mysterious appearances, has been revealed as 22-year-old student Alex Powell.

The film and documentary maker, who built up an international following since his first appearance last month, admitted this weekend that he is the man in the clown suit.

Alex was outed by a national Sunday newspaper, who pictured him leaving a house dressed in the sinister costume.

The Northampton Clown had terrified and fascinated residents in the quiet town in equal measure.

His Facebook page attracted more than 184,000 fans, and his unnerving appearances have been featured by news channels around the world.

But his identity was revealed when the Sunday People spotted him entering a house, before leaving in the costume.

When challenged by the paper as he emerged, Powell said: 'OK, I am the clown but I’ve been trying to keep it as ­mysterious as possible. To be discreet so people didn’t find out.'

The Northampton University student said he has been sent over 1,000 death threats on Facebook since he began his creepy antics.

He told the newspaper: 'It was just a bit of fun at first and a lot of people seem to enjoy it but it gets a bit hard sometimes with the death threats.'

Powell claimed he was threatened with a knife at a football match, while he also received a phone call threatening to run him over.

Powell made his first appearance as the Northampton Clown on Friday September 13th. He would upload pictures of himself to Facebook and was even pictured emerging from a lake.

As well as his unsettling appearances, the clown also visited a terminally ill girl in hospital, and plans to donate money from merchandise to charity.

The clown had a distinct resemblance to 'Pennywise' from Stephen King's horror novel 'It', and Powell would sign off his Facebook posts with the characters catchphrase, 'Beep beep!'.

Powell had to insist he was not out to hurt anyone after rumours circulated that he was carrying a knife.

He told a local newspaper anonymously: 'I just wanted to amuse people.

'Most people enjoy being a bit freaked out and then they can laugh about it afterwards.

'It's like watching a horror movie. When people get scared they usually start laughing.'