Filling station raider hunted

The raider claimed to be armed with a knife.

He struck at the Texaco station in Bexhill Road, Ninfield on Sunday afternoon. The garage is at a crossroads. There are four possible ways of escape from the site and the filling station has been the subject of several previous raids.

Police said: "At around 2pm a black man was seen to be dropped off in Bexhill Road, Ninfield from a blue Peugeot 307 estate, believed to be a new model.

"The man was in a condition described as either drunk or ill at that time.

"Around 40 minutes later it is thought that the man entered the Texaco garage.

"The man waited until the busy garage was empty before jumping over the counter and assaulting a member of staff.

"He told the member of staff that he had a knife and to open the till.

"The victim did not open the till and the main continued to assault him for a further five minutes before the victim managed to escape the shop and get help."

The man is described as black, with short "afro" hair. He had a round face, a thin moustache and large features.

He was said to be 5ft 9ins to 5ft 11ins. and of slim to medium build.

He was wearing a royal blue Adidas zip-up jacket with three yellow stripes along both arms, jeans and trainers.

Witnesses have described him as having maybe a Mancunian accent.

Rother CID said this week that they were continuing the investigation and would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen the man or the Peugeot.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bexhill police station on 0845 6070999 quoting serial 856 of March 11.