A STREET entertainer dressed as a golden cowboy left an eight-year-old boy in floods of tears after handcuffing him and pressing a pretend GUN against the terrified lad's head.

Schoolboy Connor May was supposed to be having a special day out with his gran at a Christmas market when he spotted the human statue and went to pose for a picture.

After giving the entertainer, nicknamed 'Glint Eastwood' because he paints himself from head-to-foot in gold paint, a pound, the man suddenly handcuffed Connor.

He attached one end of the handcuffs to his own belt buckle before placing his gloved hand on the youngster's head.

Shocked Connor then had a golden gun pressed against his temple while the street entertainer waited for his gran to take a picture Moments after the snap was taken Connor burst into tears and has since suffered "flash backs".

The bizarre incident took place in Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market in the city centre, last Saturday afternoon.

Now Connor, who suffers from ADHD and frequent panic attacks, has been left "shaken up" by the incident.

Mum Laura, 31, from Malvern, Worcs., fumed: "I was absolutely horrified when I heard what had happened.

"I looked at the photo my mum took and I could see that Connor seemed very uncomfortable with what was happening to him.

"The cowboy was holding his head to one side and pressing the cocked pistol against his temple, it was sinister.

"Connor was shook-up. He was being restrained by someone he didn’t know.

"In this day and age, it is not acceptable.

"Who knows who this man could be, he's just allowed to stand there with an imitation gun and no-one cares because he's painted gold.

"Connor already has enough problems with his ADHD, we're getting him tested for the autistic spectrum soon.

"But this has set him way back, it's not good for him.

"He's OK enough now, but he was really shaken up on the day and has since suffered flashbacks. I think these people need to be licenced before they are allowed out there.

"I mean they are just allowed to stand there and go near children."

Helen, 59, a graphic designer, added: "On approaching the man, he immediately handcuffed my grandson to himself and proceeded to hold his head steady while pressing a gun against his temple.

"But we couldn't see the handcuff, it just looked like he was posing with him, so I was snapping pictures away.

"There was a fair crowd all watching and it seemed perfectly innocent.

"Connor asked me if he could put some money in the man's hat and I got a pound out of my bag.

"He went over and the man sprang to life and posed with him. I didn't realise he had put the cuffs on.

"It was then that everything changed, he suddenly grabbed hold of Connor's head and pointed the gun at him "The crowd all went quiet and I stopped taking pictures.

"In this day and age of innocent members of the public being murdered in our streets, this is unacceptable.

"My grandson tried to pretend he was having fun, but he sensed people were looking on horrified.

"After a muffled sound of displeasure, the crowd dispersed.

"To do that to any child is bad news, to hold a weapon in that fashion.

"It’s very poor taste and frightening. Friends who have seen the picture are appalled, absolutely appalled.

"Connor already has enough problems, he is not a normal little boy, so how would this man know what would happen?

"He's normally really excitable and boisterous but he spent the rest of the day really quiet.

"We're just worried about who could get ideas from this. If someone is just allowed to stand there with a gun what could happen next."

Birmingham City Council said the street entertainer would be warned about his conduct.

A spokesman said: "There is currently no legislation restricting ‘human statues’, unless they are causing an obstruction, a noise nuisance or any other public order offence.

"However, our city centre management team will be speaking to the performer in question about this allegation."