BRITISH MEMORIES

Forced to strip naked in the street: Shocking scenes as rioters steal clothes and rifle through bags as people make their way home

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depths the thugs were prepared to plumb – stealing the clothes from a man’s back.

The taller, broader man already holds a pair of white and green trainers and a white T-shirt in his hands. Now, it seems, he wants the trousers too.

The shorter man dutifully removes his jeans, leaving only his dark blue underpants and his white socks.

Humiliation: A young man is forced to strip to his underpants in the street, having apparently already handed his T-shirt and trainers to a looter. There were unconfirmed reports last night of victims being made to strip in Deptford, south London, and in Birmingham

The image appeared on Twitter as internet rumours claimed that, on top of widespread violence and looting across London, thugs were even removing clothing from  their victims.

Several people on Twitter claimed there have been incidents of victims being stripped naked in Deptford, South London and Birmingham but, because of the very nature of the alleged incidents, the reports remain unsubstantiated.

In the photograph the ‘victim’  –  his face pixellated – stands on the kerbside in a quiet side road and appears cowed before the other man after handing over his clothing.