Halloween is a sure-fire winner when it comes to having the streets filled with ghosts, ghouls and monsters galore.

But for ghost buster, Jonathan Pounder, a fascination with the spirit world is a year-round hobby.

EMMA GREENHALGH found out more.



JONATHAN Pounder has a passion for things that go bump in the night.

But his is a very scientific approach to all things paranormal.

Not many of us would give up our weekends to sit in a dark and damp old building in the dead of the night waiting for spirits to make contact.
Jonathan does.

He is part of the Esoteric Paranormal Investigations (EPI) group which uses sophisticated technical equipment including digital thermometers, electromagnetic field (EMF) readers and camcorders.

Cool-headed Jonathan said: "It's in the middle of the night but it's not scary, it's interesting. It's something that we can't explain and that's the whole reason to do it.

"I believe in ghosts but I want proof."

The group have investigated Hartlepool's Town Hall Theatre in Raby Road as well as the Headland's Heugh Gun Battery and uncovered some spine chilling revelations.

Other buildings they have scrutinised are Darlington Civic Theatre, Jedburgh Jail in Scotland and Mainsforth Theatre in Ferryhill.

He said: "If they are there, they are not performing animals. We can't say you will go into a certain house and something will happen.

"If it doesn't it's disheartening, but you could spend the entire night there and nothing happens but right at the end there could be one thing. An electro magnetic field or a door moving and you forget about the rest of it.

"Sometimes you get whole nights when it kicks off."

And local haunts have proved particularly interesting.

Jonathan said: "You get quite a lot at the Heugh. I had unexplained voices or electronic voice phenomena.

"Apparently there's a drunken soldier there who is a bit of a clown and he went 'hello' and everybody turned round and looked at each other and said 'did you hear that?'"

But Jonathan, who has a brother, Andrew Pounder, 32, from the Stranton area of town, said it is not enough to just experience it for yourself. It must be caught on camera to convince the sceptics.

Before they start they conduct 'baseline surveys' to measure electromagnetic fields, locating sockets and cables that could influence readings and temperature checks.

One technique to rouse spirits is to use 'target objects' which are items that are familiar to the spirit, such as toy soldiers for the gun battery.

During investigations, separate cameras will be focussed on the target object – such as a toy soldier – and the rest of the room to prove there's no jiggery pokery.

Jonathan said this helps to prove there has been no interference if camera footage does show an object moving.

One of his most convincing encounters was when he was at Jedburgh Jail.

He said: "We went into one part of the jail and there was a big oak door that had been there for donkey's years and it was heavy. "You had to put your full body behind it to push it. Someone said 'Is there somebody out there? Can you open the door?' and it opened in front of us. There was no gusts of wind and it would not have been strong enough to move it.

"Whenever something happens we always look for the logical explanation and that's why we are quite a respected group."

By day, the former English Martyrs pupil has a completely different occupation.

He lectures on environmental conservation and animal rehabilitation at East Durham and Houghall Community College at the Durham city campus.

Jonathan, who lives with his parents Dave and Jean Pounder in Studley Road, Hartlepool, said he originally wanted to be a vet but instead went to Sunderland University and completed a degree in environmental studies.

During his degree he took a year out with British Trust Conservation Volunteers and afterwards worked for Tees Valley Wildlife Trust for seven years before a lecturer's job came up.

Jonathan, whose girlfriend is Claire Knowles, 28, a supermarket supervisor, spends a lot of time improving wildlife sites around North East England and is not afraid to get his hands dirty.

He said: "I love getting out there doing hands on work and seeing the benefits for the wildlife.

"My area that I'm interested in is mammals, otters, water voles and badgers but I also like great crested newts."

Busy Jonathan is also working towards a post graduate certificate in education at Houghall College and does some freelance consultation work.

Jonathan said that when he revealed his pastime to his students he got a mixed reaction.

He said: "Some said 'you would not get me doing that' and others said 'can we come?'"

Anyone who is interested in paranormal investigations can contact Jonathan on 07980 581437.