A MAN posing as a stranded American tourist conned a Bromsgrove couple into handing him £200.

Police are warning people to be on their guard after the man called on a couple at their Kidderminster Road home, last Tuesday evening.

Speaking with an American accent, he claimed he was a tourist stranded in Bromsgrove with no money.

He said he was staying in Reading with some friends but they had gone to spend the day in Wales and he had spent the day in Stratford-upon-Avon.

He claimed whilst in Stratford he discovered he did not have his wallet and the police referred him to a shelter in Birmingham. He was then given a lift to Bromsgrove.

The couple, in their 30s, offered to let the man stay at their home for the night, however, he insisted he couldn't and after several hours they agreed to lend him £200 to stay at the Perry Hall Ramada Jarvis Hotel, in Bromsgrove.

Embarrassed by the incident they have decline to be named

The man arranged to meet the couple the next day to pay back the money but failed to turn up. The woman checked he had stayed at the hotel and he had but left without paying the bill.

PC Malcolm Blythe, of Bromsgrove police, said: "This is an unusual offence and this man was extremely convincing.

"He spent several hours with this couple and preyed on their good nature in order to steal money from them."

He has been described as a white man with an olive complexion. He is about 5ft 9ins tall, of stocky build and aged in his late 20s.

He had a round face, brown eyes and brown hair in a short crew cut. He was wearing a black jacket, a cream and beige checked shirt and cream or mustard trousers.

"Because the couple spent such a long time with him, they have been able to give us a good description.

"These offenders provide stories that are believable and credible and it can be very distressing to realise that you have been duped in such a way," said PC Blythe.

Anyone with any information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Bromsgrove police on 01527 584888.