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A chef who only wanted to gamble on football matches was shocked to see himself in a CCTV still for a serious crime.

Police issued a the image of Mark Moran in the shop, saying they wanted to speak to him in connection with a ‘nasty’ attempted mugging of two betting shop assistants, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The two victims, who work in a William Hill office in Salford, had been targeted after leaving the premises and being followed by two men who attempted to grab their bags.

But innocent Mark, 27, was later wrongly identified as one of the crooks and panicked when he saw himself in ‘wanted’ signs.

(Image: MEN)

Mark said: “It is my local bookies. I had gone in at the end of the football season to place a bet on a game.

“Everyone has seen the picture – my family, friends, and neighbours. I have had people coming up to me in the street calling me a thief and a bag snatcher.”

Mark, who works in the kitchen of a hotel in Manchester city centre, was even quizzed by his bosses.

He explained: “I had to explain to them that it wasn’t true.

“After I saw it myself I called the police twice to tell them it wasn’t me.”

Greater Manchester Police say the appeal was a mix-up and add that Mr Moran is not wanted in connection with the crime.

Detective Sergeant Jill Vescovi said: "We interviewed the victims of this attempt robbery and initial enquiries led us to believe that the man in the image was the man responsible for the earlier robbery.

"As a result it as agreed we needed to release his image as we believed he was a suspect in a violent offence.

"The man was identified in good faith, fully believing at the time that he was responsible.

"We have now looked into this further and he has been completely eliminated from the inquiry."

William Hill bookmakers did not comment on the mix-up.