AN elderly man was the victim of an aggressive con artist in Devizes today after he was stopped close to the police station.

The victim, aged in his 70s, was stopped at around 12.45pm as he walked along the pavement by a man in a dark coloured car who flagged him down and asked for directions.

A police spokesman said: "At the end of their conversation the driver then offered the victim some gifts of perfume and a watch as a thank you.

"However, he then asked for money for petrol to get back to London and allegedly became aggressive when the victim would not give him money or give him the gifts back.

"The pair have had a dispute in the middle of the road, before the suspect left."

PC Nicky Cross, from Devizes Community Policing Team, said: "We know there were a number of witnesses and the victim has said traffic was busy in the area at the time, and drivers would have noticed the unusual sight of two men remonstrating in the middle of the road.

"The victim was not injured, but was left shaken by what happened and we are considering if this was some sort of scam designed to get money from members of the public.

"If you saw what happened or you were also approached by the same man who was either offering gifts or asking for money, then please call police."

Anyone with information should call Wiltshire Police on 101, quoting log 153 of today (10/12). Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.