This is the awkward moment a Tory council candidate was left red-faced after mistaking a man for a child.
The doorbell cam footage shows Sam Gascoyne if Steven Wood's parents are home, despite it being his property.
Steven, 24, was redecorating the home with his partner Bethany, 21, on Saturday when he heard a knock at the door.
The video shows Mr Gascoyne towering over Steven who is 5ft 3in, before asking: "Mum or dad in?"
When Steven responds by saying: "I live here, it's my house"
Mr Gascoyne, the Conservative candidate for Pitsea North-West in Basildon, Essex, can be heard letting out a nervous laugh when he realised his error.
Steven told The Sun Online : "I'm 24 and 5ft 3in so I look about 11. I was mid-way through wallpapering when I answered the door.
"I couldn't open it full way because the bedside table was in the way, and he said 'your mum and dad in?'.
"I thought it was funny. I said to my mum before I moved in that I could see it happening because I'm still getting ID'd for cans of Monster.
"I was with my girlfriend's dad who found it hilarious. If I was expecting it, I would have called him to the door and pretended he was my dad as a joke but it completely threw me off guard."
Bethany was out at the time, but Steven was thrilled when he realised the gaffe was caught on camera.
He said Bethany found it "hilarious".
Steven says he is often mistaken for someone much younger because of his height and admits he wasn't too surprised at the encounter.
Mr Gascoyne has also admitted this wasn't the first time he had mistaken a homeowner for a kid.
Sam, who is standing in the May 2022 elections, said: "I have to say I feel somewhat embarrassed that I made that mistake.
"I'm actually standing for election and try to be careful about not making assumptions."
He added that he had made the mistake before and that he hopes the gaffe doesn't put Steven off voting for him.
Steven's brother shared the video on Twitter and TikTok and it was quickly seen thousands of times.
One person commented: "It's harmless but hilarious too. Won't be complaining when they're older and still being asked!"
Another added: "That is f*****g great haha."
And a third posted: "The pause and look before asking for mum and dad is hilarious. You can see him weighing up the question."
