Police are investigating an assault which happened at around 5.20pm, on the 15th September outside the HSBC bank.
The unknown offender, believed to be male and in their late teens, ran past the victim and struck him with a whip across the chest.
A Cumbria Police spokesman said: “The victim suffered no injury.
“There were four other people with the offender, who all ran away from the city centre possibly towards Scotch Street.”
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed this event, or may have information, to contact PC 2608 on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting log 177 of the 15th September.