Police release CCTV in hunt for violent robber who dragged 61-year-old woman by her hair to steal £100

Police are appealing for help in capturing the 5' 7" man, who is described as 'of slight or wiry build with a lean, chiselled face'

Police in Sussex have released CCTV in an appeal to catch a burglar who violently robbed a 61-year-old woman, dragging her outside a pub and threatening her with a hachet.

The video shows a man breaking into The True Crime Museum in White Rock, Hastings, taking several minutes using a hatchet and his feet to break down the door.

After filling his bags with electrical items, he left the museum and went to the Pig in Parade pub nearby.

Here the thief encounters a female member of staff after smashing his way through the back door of the property. He is unperturbed at coming across an individual in the building and forces the 61-year-old woman to the floor, dragging her outside by her hair and forcing her to hand over £100.

The man forced the 61-year-old woman to the ground, grabbed her by the hair and dragged her outside the pub before threatening her with the hatchet and forcing her to hand over more than £100.

Following the crime, the suspect folds his coat, puts it over his arm and leaves, forgetting the bags from the museum. The incident occurred on the evening of Sunday 14 June.

Police are appealing for help in capturing the 5' 7" man, who is described as "of slight or wiry build with a lean, chiselled face."

Detective Sergeant Paul Graham said: "This was a terrifying incident for the victim and we are determined to find the man responsible.

"The man spent several minutes breaking into the museum and must have made a lot of noise so I am appealing for anyone who was in the area and heard what was happening or who saw a man acting suspiciously around the seafront pub entrance or the nearby fire escape access in Prospect Place before the attack.

A reward for information is also being offered by the owner of the museum.

Anyone with information should email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 1415 of 14/06, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.