But now the devil is coming out of the shadows and taking up residence in a garden in Jersey, after hundreds of people offered him a home.
The giant statue of the Prince of Darkness – affectionately named Derek – is a replica of the statue near the Priory Inn at Devil’s Hole.
Derek has been in storage in a warehouse owned by pub chain Randalls since the company bought the Priory.
Now that Randalls is relocating from its premises in Clare Street it can no longer accommodate the 20ft fibreglass figure, so offered it free of charge to anyone who wanted it.
Immediately they received far more offers than they had expected.
A huge replica of Satan might not be everyone’s first choice of garden ornament. Yet it was put on Randalls’ Facebook page only yesterday and managing director Gavin Reid said: ‘It was phenomenal. We put it out there and I expected maybe ten or 12 people would be interested.
‘About 170 replied. Most of them wanted it or recommended people who might.’
He added: ‘We are relocating our warehouses and we haven’t got the space for it any more. Now someone else can enjoy it, rather than it just sitting indoors.’
They decided against placing the satanic statue in the grounds of another pub, like its brother at the Priory.
‘It doesn’t fit with our family-friendly image,’ Mr Reid said. ‘It might provoke some uncomfortable questions for parents to answer.’
The statue has been given away for free but Randalls suggested that its new owners could make a donation to Jersey Cheshire Home, the charity the firm is supporting this year.
It has been delivered to an Islander who intends to give it to a relative as a surprise gift – and so is remaining anonymous. The new owner has made a donation to the charity.
