The South Shields Poltergeist In December 2005 a family began to experience poltergeist-like phenomena in their home. Slowly but steadily the phenomena escalated, and in July 2006 it got worse than ever imagined. The case, that began at the end of 2005, and lasted most of 2006, is said by some to be one of the best attested, and one of the most significant cases in over 50 years.