SHE might have been expecting wine, red roses and a night of romance – but instead was left shocked and stranded after being robbed in a bizarre con.The woman – from Felixstowe – found herself 100 miles from her home, in a town she did not know, with no transport and her possessions stolen.

SHE might have been expecting wine, red roses and a night of romance – but instead was left shocked and stranded after being robbed in a bizarre con.

The woman – from Felixstowe – found herself 100 miles from her home, in a town she did not know, with no transport and her possessions stolen.

Now police are trying to trace the man behind the strange and cruel con trick, who is enticing his prey via a mobile phone network dating service.

The woman, who has not been named, met the crook via the phone network.

They went on one date together and nothing untoward happened, and they agreed to meet again.

For the second date, he offered to "bring her home" and claimed he worked as a firefighter and had a very large house in Northampton.

He collected her from her home in Felixstowe and they set off for Northamptonshire, but police say they stopped at the village of Weston Favell, near Northampton, outside a big house.

The man asked his companion to get out of the car so than he could pull into the garage. He also told her there was no need for her to remove her overnight bag and so she left it in the car.

Then immediately after she had got out of the vehicle, she was left to watch in amazement as the man accelerated away at speed, leaving her stranded.

Eventually, she found a police station and reported her predicament and the theft of her suitcase.

Police in Northampton say it is a "very unusual" theft and are baffled at what the man hoped to steal from a woman's overnight bag, which contained clothes.

They are contacting police forces nationwide to see whether the incident, which took place on January 2, is part of a pattern of similar thefts possibly linked to mobile phone dating services.

"The man is described as white, about 6ft tall, aged 40 to 45, and he is of medium build with short grey hair and eyes that slightly protrude," said a Northamptonshire police spokesman.

"He referred to himself as Nick, although it is not known if this was his real name."

He was driving a dark brown Citroen BX hatchback, but on the earlier date had a different car, a gold-coloured G-plate Vauxhall Carlton.

Anyone who recognises the description of the man or the cars, or has been a victim of a similar incident is asked to contact police on 01604 700700.

n Were you the victim of this incident, or do you know the woman involved? Ring our Felixstowe Newsdesk on 01394 284109.