An armed tramp who grabbed and lifted up a skateboarding youth demanded he take him to a soup kitchen to help him read the opening hours.
The incident, which happened in Fossgate at 5.45pm on Wednesday, left the 13-year-old boy shaken but unharmed.
Wielding what looked like a home-made knife, the tramp took the youth down Piccadilly to George Street Church.
He then asked him what time the soup kitchen opened.
The skateboarder told police he could have left the tramp at any time but felt too frightened and intimidated.
The tramp is described as being 5ft 8ins tall with short blond hair, slim and scruffy.
Anyone who may have seen the incident should contact York police on York 631321.
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