Quick Info
On a freezing December morning in 1987, former police officer Philip Spencer (not his real name) was walking across Ilkley Moor in West Yorkshire when he saw a small humanoid being. He managed to take one of the clearest alleged alien photographs ever captured. He later experienced missing time and recalled being taken inside a craft. The case includes physical effects, polygraph tests, and hypnosis sessions.
Philip Spencer is seen by many as a credible witness, with his background in law enforcement, who had no reason at all to make up such a wild tale. His story and the famous photo have fascinated researchers for decades since the event.
A Cold Morning on Ilkley Moor
Ilkley Moor is a wild, windswept expanse of heather and rocky outcrops in West Yorkshire. On December 1, 1987, Philip Spencer, a former police officer, decided to take an early morning walk across the moor with his camera. The weather was bitterly cold, and a light mist hung over the landscape. Philip was an experienced walker and knew the area well.
The Encounter
As he crested a small rise, Philip suddenly saw a small figure standing about 30 metres away. It was roughly 4 feet tall, dressed in a tight one-piece suit with a hood, and had a large head with dark, slanted eyes. The being appeared to be looking at him. Philip instinctively raised his camera and took a single photograph before the figure turned and moved quickly away.
“It was small, about four feet tall, with a large head and big dark eyes. It was wearing a tight suit. I just reacted and took the photo.”
— Philip Spencer
After the being disappeared behind some rocks, Philip felt disoriented. He realized he had lost several hours of time. When he finally made it back to town, the time on his watch and the position of the sun didn’t match.
The Famous Photograph
The single black-and-white photo Philip took shows a small humanoid figure standing on the moor. It is one of the clearest images of its kind ever captured. The figure appears to be wearing a shiny, tight-fitting garment. The photo has been examined by photographic experts and has never been conclusively proven a hoax.
Missing Time and Regression
After the being disappeared behind some rocks, Philip felt strangely disoriented. He looked at his watch and realised several hours had passed, yet the position of the sun suggested it was still early morning. When he finally made it back to the town of Ilkley, the time on his watch didn’t match the actual time of day. He felt nauseous and had a strange metallic taste in his mouth.
Deeply troubled by the experience, Philip later underwent hypnotic regression with a qualified therapist. Under hypnosis he recalled being taken inside a craft. He described a bright, clinical interior and several beings examining him. He also remembered seeing a large screen that displayed images of environmental destruction, forests being cut down, polluted rivers, and scenes of ecological collapse. The beings seemed to be showing him these images as a warning.
“They showed me pictures of the Earth being damaged… forests disappearing, water poisoned. It felt like they were trying to tell me something important.”
— Philip Spencer under hypnosis
Philip also recalled physical procedures being performed on him, though he described the beings as neither hostile nor friendly, simply methodical. After the session he felt emotionally drained and had trouble sleeping for weeks. The hypnosis tapes and transcripts have been studied by researchers and remain consistent with his conscious memories.
The Investigation
The case quickly attracted attention from Britain’s leading ufologists. Jenny Randles and Peter Hough conducted a detailed investigation, interviewing Spencer multiple times and carefully examining the circumstances. They arranged for the photograph to be analysed by independent photographic experts and professional laboratories. No evidence of double exposure, superimposition, or darkroom trickery was found. The image was deemed genuine within the limits of 1980s film technology.
Spencer also underwent a polygraph (lie detector) test administered by an experienced examiner. He passed with flying colours, showing no signs of deception. Medical examinations revealed no obvious physical anomalies, though he reported lingering nausea and sleep disturbances for several weeks after the event. Under hypnosis he provided consistent details that matched his conscious memories, including the appearance of the beings and the images shown on the screen inside the craft.
“Philip Spencer struck me as a sincere and honest man. His account never wavered, even under detailed questioning.”
— Jenny Randles, UFO researcher
The investigators also spoke with people who knew Spencer and confirmed he had no prior interest in UFOs or the paranormal. The combination of the clear photograph, the missing time corroborated by his watch discrepancy, the polygraph result, and the hypnosis sessions made the Ilkley Moor case one of the most thoroughly documented and credible close encounters in British UFO history.
Timeline of the Ilkley Moor Encounter
- Early morning on December 1, 1987 – Philip Spencer walks across Ilkley Moor with his camera.
- The sighting – He sees a small humanoid being and takes one photograph.
- Missing time – Philip loses several hours and feels disoriented.
- Following weeks – He undergoes hypnosis and recalls being inside a craft.
- 1988 onward – The photo is analyzed and the case is investigated by ufologists.
Why This Case Remains Important
The Ilkley Moor encounter stands out because of the combination of a clear photograph, a credible witness with a police background, missing time, and supporting physical and psychological effects. Unlike many abduction claims, this one has tangible evidence that has withstood decades of scrutiny. It remains one of the most intriguing and visually compelling cases in British UFO history.
Great video on this event from @BedtimeStoriesChannel on YouTube
More videos from @BedtimeStoriesChannel on YouTube
What Do You Think?
After readingthis story, and watching the video above, what’s your gut reaction to it? Do you think he really encountered a non-human being on Ilkley Moor, or could there be another explanation? Why do you think the case, and the photograph, have remained so compelling to so many people for decades?
I will say there is something about this case, and especially the photograph, that makes certain people very mad indeed. I don't know why that is to be honest, Philip has never once sought fame or fortune from his photograph or story. Today in 2026 almost 40 years later this is still one of Britain’s most intriguing close encounters, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
