Martin Lewis recalls 'scary' encounter with member of public as 'GMB' discuss Chris Whitty harassment

Watch: Martin Lewis recall his 'scary' encounter with member of the public

TV presenter Martin Lewis has admitted he felt "intimidated" about going out in public after a "scary" encounter with a member of the public.

The money saving expert is currently co-hosting Good Morning Britain and while discussing the video of government adviser Chris Whitty being harassed in public - recalled his own intimidating encounter while taking his daughter to the park.

Lewis, 49, revealed: "I will never forget that episode, because it made me intimidated to go down the street. It ruined my day, but also it was a scary. I'm trying to protect her."

Read more: Martin Lewis defends not wearing a tie for 'Good Morning Britain' debut

The This Morning guest presenter explained the incident occurred several years ago when his daughter was just three-years-old.

He recalled: "I was walking along the road near the playground, she was on my shoulders, and a man came up to me and said 'You're the money guy aren't you?'. And I said, with a smile on my face, 'Not today, I'm Daddy'.

"Because I've got my little girl and she gets very scared when people that we don't know approach.

"He said, 'I just want to ask you a question.' And I said, 'I'm so sorry, I'm on my way to the playground, we can't do this right now, she gets a little bit intimidated.'

"He started calling me a name that begins with C, and he started following me down the road, shouting at me, 'You are a - you know what the word is - while my three-year-old is on my shoulders. And 'You're nothing like you are on the telly, you're all pretence you - whatever.'

"Normally when people come and talk to me in the street I'm always happy to do it. I say hello, I smile, I try and answer a question unless I'm in a rush, I'm always polite and nice.

"But my little girl, understandably, as a child can get very scared when strangers approach and I was very polite."

Lewis admitted : "It is the exception. If I'm out and about and somebody wants a photo and I'm somewhere private with my family I say, 'You can have a photo would but would you mind not sharing it on social media?' And I've never had it happen once that someone's put it on. Most people are wonderful."

Watch: Police investigating after Professor Chris Whitty is accosted in park

But the financial guru added that he thought perhaps prosecution should be considered for the level of harassment shown in the video of Professor Chris Whitty that emerged this week.

Read more: Right Said Fred dismiss outrage over abuse of Chris Whitty

Lewis said: "But what we actually have to do, is the people who don't have respect, we do perhaps need to prosecute them."

This is not the first time England's chief medical officer, Whitty, has been shown being harassed in the street.

In February, a video uploaded to TikTok showed him being subjected to verbal abuse in the street.