Police in Carlisle are hunting a middle-aged man who is slapping high street shoppers if they sneeze . Police are hunting a middle-aged man who is slapping high street shoppers if they sneeze . In what Cumbria Police admit is 'very unusual behaviour ' , the man , who wears a tweed jacket , first smacked a woman round the head after she sneezed in Carlisle town centre on Monday . The following day , the same man is thought to have slapped an 82-year-old woman who had just sneezed in Scotch Street , Carlisle . Sgt Gill Cherry of Cumbria Police said the pensioner was left feeling 'confused and upset ' . Police were informed about the first attack by witnesses – but have yet to trace the victim . Cumbrian Police described their strange suspect as being in his mid-to-late 50s and wearing a plush , tweed jacket . The force have now asked for anyone with any information about , or who witnessed , the two related incidents to contact them . Sgt Gill Cherry from said : 'We are treating these two reported incidents as linked , and are appealing to the local community to help trace the man responsible . 'It is very unusual behaviour , and will have left his victims feeling confused and upset . ' Shoppers in Carlisle yesterday said they were concerned by the eccentric 's behaviour , although Nicola Dawson , 48 , a dental receptionist , said : ' I have come here shopping on my day off and actually have a cold . 'If anyone smacked me for sneezing I would smack them back . 'If anyone saw someone do something like that I would be surprised if they did not do something as you would n't stand for it if you witnessed it . ' Trainee shop assistant Gemma Prosser , 19 , added : 'We heard as it happened in the town centre and at first we just thought it was a bit weird . 'When you think about it , it is really awful because anyone can sneeze at any time and it 's not your fault . ' Sgt Gill Cherry from said : 'We are treating these two reported incidents as linked '
Middle-age man slapping high street shoppers if they sneeze in Carlisle . Cumbria Police have linked two incidents in the town in a matter of days . Described the suspect as in his mid-to-late 50s and wearing a tweed jacket .