Is there an evil genie living in Rawmarsh?

Lee Steer, a member of paranormal group Project Reveal, said the genie - or djinn - may inhabit a special sacred container which has just been added to their collection of weird and spooky objects.

Group members believe they have detected hotspots in the old object and think it may have moved of its own accord and tried to communicate with them.

Lee Steer has the container among the team’s haunted objects museum collection at his Green Lane home in Rawmarsh.

But he said that far from being a benevolent wish-giver, the djinn was seen by Arabic culture as potentially evil and known as a Marid.

The group already has a doll said to be haunted, a teddy bear which “growls” and a ouija board supposedly inhabited by a witch’s spirit.

The djinn holder - which is about four inches long and decorated, and which is designed to be hung round the neck - was donated to Project Reveal by a witch called Yventus who believed it was affecting her home negatively. 

Lee said that the holders were from the Egypt, Israel and Iraq region and had been used by Bedouins for centuries, normally worn by leaders.

“It’s not clear if it’s used for good or bad but looking at the folklore it seems that there is no record of genies helping out mankind,” he said.

“They are all about destruction and evil.

“People think that djinns are nice but in the Qu’ran they are said to be the devil.”

Lee said that the witch claimed the sacred holder responded to her questions, so Project Reveal members had tried to study it since it arrived in Rotherham.

Lee said he had been warned about the object, with Bedouin tribe members telling him to stay well away.

Lee and colleagues Philip Kevin Williams and John Williams have used hi-tech equipment to find a static hotspot of 29 deg C inside the djinn holder, and have also reportedly detected vibrations and energy fluctuations.

Lee said that when the holder was asked questions, it seemed to respond through vibrations and energy variations as if answering.

He said: “Whatever is happening it appears to have an intelligence to seem to answer questions.”

Lee said he remained a sceptic on paranormal matters and wanted to investigate the djinn holder further to try and find scientific explanations for the phenomena observed.

But he said he had experienced headaches and electricity problems since receiving the container.

The group wants to leave the holder in an empty room for 24 hours so there is no possible human interference with a camera to react to and record any movement.

Lee also said he is going to wear the object to see what happens, as well as try to antagonise it.

When a picture of the item was placed on the Project Reveal - Ghosts of Britain Facebook site, many people were upset by it.

Lee said: “It was the most scared response I have seen on the fan page. People were in a panic about it.”

The age of the djinn holder is not known but Lee believes it contains ashes and pieces of bone.

Lee said: “The most common question I’m asked is will I open it. But I know if I open it the mystery is gone and the value is gone. I could also let a spirit free.”