Copyright irishmirror
A British mum from Cornwall purchased what's been dubbed the 'UK's most haunted doll' and claims she and her family have been tormented by it ever since, even alleging the terrifying toy communicates with her three-year-old son. Candice Collins, 42, acquired the spine-chilling toy on eBay from Christian Hawksworth, who had originally discovered it at an antiques fair for merely £3. The doll, called Norman, grabbed headlines in 2023 when Christian decided to sell it following a series of misfortunes, including a burst appendix, being shot, brake failure, and a substantial pay reduction. Despite being aware of these disturbing tales, mum-of-three Candice was fascinated and snapped up the doll - which boasts blonde locks and sports a striped blue shirt - on eBay for £200. Candice, a paranormal researcher from Falmouth who collects haunted dolls and other supernatural artefacts, aspires to eventually establish her own museum of paranormal objects. Nevertheless, since Norman's arrival in June 2023, Candice maintains her life has taken a sinister twist with the supposedly evil doll bringing "lots of pain" to the household. She revealed to What's The Jam: "As soon as I opened the box, the room went freezing cold and a heavy depression filled the air. I knew then there was definitely something attached to this doll. "I've worked with Norman a few times, but that same feeling comes washing over me. It fills my bones with dread. It didn't feel right from the beginning to keep him in the house, so I put him in a glass box with some holy water.", reports the Mirror . Candice stores the doll in a small outbuilding in their garden so that it remains outside the house and is kept away from the family, however, she believes he has discovered a way to influence them. Candice added: "My health hasn't always been great, but it was under control. Since getting him, it's much worse. "I have arthritis, headaches and also random bruises that come up on my body for no reason. I've got a scratch on my back that looks like deep claw marks, too. My partner, Nick, needs a hip replacement, as that has taken a turn for the worse. "It just feels like never ending bad luck. I don't know if it's a result of this demonic doll." In fact, the mum reckons she's heard Norman giggling and having chats with her three-year-old son during the night. Candice shared: "In the night, I can hear my little boy talking to someone. He also starts laughing, which is very strange. I've had nightmares, which can be troublesome. I wake up in a panic because I'm drowning or being attacked by an unseen figure. I've even felt my hand being bitten while dreaming. I sensed something making sounds in our bathroom and heard an evil voice calling my name in my sleep. It all felt so real." Candice, who grew up in a haunted house and now runs Cornish Ghost Whispers, a paranormal investigation group, has shared her chilling experiences with the supernatural. She told Cornwall Live: "I grew up in a haunted house, so I've seen spirits my whole life. I'd see children running through the house. I saw an old lady walk past the window when there was no one in the garden. Black shadows. People whispering. Things moving and lights going on and off." Speaking about a particularly eerie object, Norman, Candice said: "He does remind me of something out of the Chucky movies. It seems he's out to get anyone that stands in his way. "The bottom line is that you're not safe around him, especially if you have children, as he wants them all to himself. I would never trust him around a child, as I think he's focused on manipulating them. "It whispers things, words that can cause real harm; even death. I really do think he's the most possessed doll in the UK – maybe the world. "To be able to inflict such pain and accidents as he has done really makes you wonder how far he will go. I do all of what is needed to protect [my family]. I use sage, crystals, holy water – anything I can. "I want to prove that there is life after death, and that not all objects are evil, some just need help. But I've got to keep my wits about me, as I don't know what could happen next."
