The disturbing encounter was caught on live TV as Stephen Hendry spoke during a break in play at the Crucible.
Police are investigating a viral video clip showing the ‘creepy’ moment a man appeared to grin after nibbling a young boy’s ear at the World Snooker Championship.
The disturbing encounter was caught on live TV as seven-time winner Stephen Hendry was speaking during a break in play at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Thursday.
Social media users were quick to draw attention to goings-on in the crowd just over Hendry’s left shoulder, where a grown man leaned down and whispered into the ear of what looked to be a teenage boy.
He then looked to nibble on his lobe before sheepishly grinning as the boy waved to the camera.
Fans were quick to comment on the clip, which has now amassed millions of views.
One person wrote: ‘This is totally disgusting and he needs locking up for sure. He even nibbled the child’s ear then realised he was on film and shook his head like that.’
Another user said: ‘This is very troubling.’
A third commented: ‘I just threw up.’
South Yorkshire Police has confirmed it has been made aware of the footage and is ‘reviewing the content’.
A spokesperson said: ‘On Thursday, April 25, at 9.20pm, we received a call to inform us of a video circulating on social media of a man and a boy at the Crucible in Sheffield.
‘We are aware of the footage and officers will be reviewing the content.’
A spokesperson for the World Snooker Tour said: ‘We are aware of this incident and it is now a police matter.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
