99 row leads to 999 call after ice-cream man sees red

Rob Tracy (64) said he had assumed the sweet treats would cost around £1.50 and was shocked when the ice cream man told him the price - despite it being advertised on the window of the van at Parkgate Shopping.

Mr Tracy, who claimed he “could have been blinded”, is now calling for the ice cream man - named only as Steve - to be sacked.

But Parkgate bosses are standing by him. Disciplinary action had been taken but they now consider the matter closed.

Mr Tracy was shopping with his wife Tracy Dixon and dog - coincidentally called Ice - last Wednesday when Ms Dixon visited the ice cream van outside Poundworld.

When he found out the cost, Mr Tracy suggested they refuse to pay.

But the seller told him he had rent to pay for the Parkgate spot.

When the couple threatened to walk away, Mr Tracy said, the ice cream man “swore at me and threw the ice creams at me from the van”.

He added: “They hit me on the left side of my head and went all down my shoulder and back - I could have been blinded if the cornet or flake had hit me in the eye.”

Ice cream also landed on German shepherd Ice, Mr Tracy added: “He loves ice cream, but not when it’s thrown at him.” 

He rang police and told them he had been assaulted by an ice cream seller.

Mr Tracy, of Greasbrough, said: “It took around an hour for the officer to arrive - I think he was the only one for miles around.”

The ice cream man was asked to leave the site and frozen out for the rest of the day.

Mr Tracy claimed the price stickers on the van’s window were inadequate.

“They were very small, around the size of a 5p and you don’t look at the price,” he said.

“I was shocked - it ruined a perfect day.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman confirmed they had received a report that “a man had been hit on the arm by an ice cream cone” following an altercation.

Mr Tracy said police had spoken with him later in the day and said the incident would not be investigated further because it was not in the public interest.

“I don’t understand their reasoning,” said Mr Tracy. “I’m not happy at all.”

Parkgate Shopping manager Janet Drury said the ice cream man would not be sacked.

“Customer service is our main priority at Parkgate Shopping and we swiftly made a full and frank apology to the customer involved,” she said.

“We have also undertaken a full disciplinary review with the employee concerned and, having carefully considered all aspects of this incident and surrounding circumstances, we are satisfied that the matter is now closed.”