An autistic man has raised the terror stakes this Halloween with a costume that friends have described as “genuinely horrifying”. 

Gavin Monks, 26, reportedly eschewed traditional Halloween fancy-dress options in favour of a costume he claimed would be “sure to strike fear and dread into the hearts of those around him”: a neurotypical man blissfully unbothered by even a trace of autism.

Monks explained: “Anyone can cut two holes in a bedsheet and claim to be a ghost, but I wanted to try something far scarier. I’m wearing a jumper that’s slightly tight around the neck, underwear with all the labels still in place, and, check it out – my sleeves are firmly rolled down.”

Monks’ partner, Wallace Murray, 27, was horrified by the transformation. Murray told us: “He really got into character. He said he was a recruitment consultant, and that he loved nothing more than closing leads, going out for ‘a cheeky Nandos’, and drinking pints of Madri while bantering with his mates.” 

“Bantering,” Murray repeated with a shudder.

However, not everyone was frightened by the costume. Dexter Livingstone, 25, a recruitment consultant who was unknowingly the inspiration for the outfit, was reportedly charmed by the transformation. Livingstone commented: “He’s like a new man! He talked to me about football, didn’t mention the Dark Souls games once, and even seemed interested in joining me and the lads on a trip to Dubai!”

Murray added: “The worst bit is he committed us both to the trip. I don’t know how to explain to Gavin that when Halloween is over, we actually have to go to Dubai.”

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