A TEENAGE girl was punched in the head and face during a violent night-time robbery in Basildon.

The 19-year-old was grabbed by the throat and knocked to the ground outside Swan Mead park, in Church Road, at about 10.30pm on Tuesday.

The victim, who needed hospital treatment, sustained broken teeth, a split lip and a severely bruised and swollen eye. Her black Samsung Galaxy S mobile, worth £300, was also taken during the attack.

The victim was wearing a green, grey and white hooded top with a long beanie hat. The suspect was a black man, aged 19 or 20, with short cropped hair, of a slim or skinny build, 5ft 7ins to 5ft 8ins tall and wearing a jacket.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Det Con Neil Hudson at the Basildon CID target team on 0300 333 4444 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.