Police in Edinburgh have warned women to beware of a man bearing cans of baked beans and other foodstuffs.
A young woman was closing up a shop in Edinburgh when a man came in and asked if he could carry out a stunt to raise money for Comic Relief.
He persuaded her to take off her shoes and socks and then asked her to close her eyes. Then, he said, she should guess what food he was covering her feet with.
As he emptied the cans over the woman’s feet, the man, who is in his late 30s, pulled out a camera and took photographs of them. He left without asking for any cash.
It was not until the shop assistant got home that evening and told friends of her experience that she realised something was amiss. With more than a hint of mortification, she contacted Lothian and Borders police.
“The woman is now very embarrassed about what she let this man do,” said a spokeswoman for the force. "The man had said he was being sponsored to carry out the stunts but there were no witnesses with him and no money was handed to him.
"This was clearly very odd and alarming behaviour and this certainly does not seem like a genuine attempt to raise money for charity.
“With a week to go until Comic Relief, we are worried that other women might be approached, though I am sure many would realise this was a con,” she added.
The man was described as 5ft 8in tall, of medium build, with short dark hair. He was wearing a red and white or yellow striped T-shirt.
