V FESTIVAL ticket holders are being warned to be wary of a con artist on crutches.

Four separate people were duped by the man as they went to sell him tickets in Chelmsford.

The police advice comes as four people, from Great Totham, Brentwood, Upminster and Brighton, arranged to meet the man after agreeing a sale through internet auction or classified sites.

Upon meeting him in the Melbourne area of Chelmsford to hand over the tickets, they were confronted by the man who was on crutches, sporting bandages and plasters on his head.

As he took the tickets for inspection and before buying them, he ran off with them.

Sgt Vic Spain said: "This is a rather bizarre way of committing crime, but it has already led to four different sets of people being duped into handing over the tickets.

"We are reminding people of the need to be wary of personal security and that of items they are holding or indeed intending to sell.”

The man is described as being of mixed heritage, in his late teens or early 20s, of small-medium build and about 5ft 6ins tall.

The crimes were all committed yesterday, August 16.

Anyone with information about the identity of the man is urged to contact investigating officers at Chelmsford police station on 101.