Thug bottled man in thwarted robbery on Hove seafront

A thug bottled a man on Hove seafront after the victim refused to hand over money during an attempted robbery.

The 52-year old victim, from Camberwell in South London, was sitting on a bench by one of the greens at the Hove and Kingsway Bowling Club on Hove seafront.

A man came over and demanded money. When the victim refused to hand over his money, the thug hit his head with a glass bottle.

The pair walked briefly together along the top of one of the greens at which point the victim ran off.

The victim was treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for a cut eyebrow which needed five stitches.

The suspect ran away northwards across the main road into Sackville Gardens or Westbourne Villas.

He was described as white with dark tanned skin, aged 25 to 30 years old, 5ft 8in to 5ft 9in tall and of medium stocky build.

He had very short shaved hair, no facial hair and a distinctive tattoo on his neck and another on his forearm.

He was wearing a dark blue t-shirt and dark blue jeans.

The attack happened at about 11.30am on Saturday (18 August).

Detective Constable Jane Walker said: “Anyone who was in the area at the time and saw what happened or saw the man running away is asked to contact us.”

Anyone with information can call Sussex Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.