Poor David Gazet. Not only did a reader mistake the Kent Messenger reporter for a cocaine addict thief – his facial hair was criticised too.

David’s video report of a case involving a supermarket manager who stole more than £11,000 from his employers to fund his habit had been embedded with a court story on the Kent Online website of the Messenger’s parent company the KM Group.

Unfortunately this led one commenter to assume a screenshot of David, pictured above left, was in fact a mugshot of the criminal himself.

The reader’s below comment was later tweeted by KM Group editorial director Ian Carter.

David told HTFP: “I was very surprised. I’ve been mistaken for a few things in my time when out doing my job, but never for an actual criminal.

“I wouldn’t say I was gobsmacked, but I was quite amused. The rest of the newsroom found it absolutely hilarious.”