A thug violently assaulted a diabetic teenager by grabbing him round the neck and pulling him to the ground, before stealing his insulin kit in Blackheath.

The 17-year-old victim was approached from behind by his attacker and thrown to the floor in Dursley Road at around 12.25pm on Sunday, December 27.

The suspect then grabbed the teenager’s Armani shoulder bag, which contained his diabetes kit and insulin before running off towards Holburne Road.

The victim, who suffered neck injuries and concussion during the robbery, was taken to hospital for treatment and discharged later that day.

The suspect is described as a white man with black hair, shaved around the back and sides and messy on top, aged between 20 and 22 years old and 5ft 7ins tall.

He wore a green and white top with grey tracksuit bottoms and had a “distinctive, unclean smell”, police said.

Detective Constable Andrew Payne, from Greenwich CID, said: "This robbery affected the victim physically and emotionally.

“It was a violent attack against a young person in the street who had his medication stolen.

“If this is taken by a person it is not prescribed to it could cause serious adverse medical problems."

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Payne on 020 8284 9449, email andrew.payne@met.police.uk, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.