Curtis Arnold, also calling himself Daniel Edwards infamous for filming the body of Nicola Bulley being pulled from a river, continues to rake in cash on social media despite facing consequences for his actions. Arnold dubbed the “TikTok ghoul,” was detained and forced to delete his account after posting disturbing footage of officers investigating Bulley’s tragic disappearance. However, he has since resurfaced under a fake name, amassing over 74,000 followers across TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
Despite his despicable behaviour, social media platforms have failed to prevent Arnold from setting up new accounts. His content, often filmed with a bodycam, includes harassing security at migrant hotels and car dealerships before being apprehended by police. He flew over a Nuclear site with his drone in Somerset before being stopped and asked to account by CNC Police. Removed the drone flight when other followers warned he had broken the law again. The roofless ghoul who is now living at an address in Swindon in Wiltshire this week also flew over a red zone at HM Prison Frankland a Category A men’s prison located in the village of Brasside in County Durham, Where convicted Wayne Couzens is currently at HMP Frankland in County Durham after initially being kept in Belmarsh. There are only 60 criminals still alive who are serving whole-life sentences, and he shares a prison with some of the country’s most prolific offenders
It remains unclear how much Arnold earns from his antics, but individuals with similar follower counts have been known to make significant sums, sometimes hundreds of pounds per post. Arnold, a hairdresser by profession, gained notoriety after joining other influencers in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancs, during the search for Bulley, who went missing while walking her dog on January 27 last year.
One of Arnold’s most appalling acts was posting an eight-minute clip on the day Bulley’s body was recovered, which reportedly earned him nearly £1,000 in royalties. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of malicious communication offences and Perverting the course of justice
Arnold’s reprehensible conduct extends beyond exploiting tragedy for profit. In the past, he was convicted of fraud for posing as a modelling agent and secretly photographing women in gyms to promote his fitness products on social media. Additionally, he received a suspended sentence in 2010 for altering his car license plate.
Despite facing criticism and legal consequences, Arnold remains defiant. When questioned about his new videos, he stated, “This is not a story that will positively reflect on me, so I’ll leave you to it.
Social media platforms have come under fire for their failure to address conspiracy theories surrounding Bulley’s case. A coroner ruled that Bulley, a 45-year-old mortgage adviser, accidentally drowned after falling into the River Wyre.
TikTok, where Arnold initially gained notoriety, declined to comment, but his account has since been banned. Facebook and YouTube were approached for comment regarding Arnold’s continued presence on their platforms.
The exploitation of tragedy for personal gain highlights the dark side of social media and the urgent need for stricter enforcement of content policies to prevent further harm to victims and their families.
Durham Police have advised that they have launched an investigation and Curtis Arnold will likely get an early morning call. CNC Police say they are looking into the breach and are currently working with the CAA following some reports.
