A short lager lout stole 10 cans of beer - before punching a female shop worker in the head when she confronted him.

The thug pinched the drinks from the Co-op, in Grange Road, Ramsgate, before being followed by the 20-year-old shop assistant.

He gave her the cans back in Cannonbury Road and the young woman started to walk back to the store.

But the man followed and threatened her, before punching her in the back of the head.

In a desperate bid to get hold of the beer, he wrapped his arms around her and managed to grab one can.

The attacker then ran off down the hill with two other men nearby.

Now Kent Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to talk to about the attack. It happened at about 7.30pm on Monday, August 20, but details have only just been released.

The offender is described as a slim white man, 5ft 4in and aged around 27 to 28 with short dark brown hair.

He had a brown mark on the right side of his jaw, walked with limp on his left leg and was wearing a thin beige and navy blue jacket, dark jeans and black plimsolls.

Anyone who knows the identity of the man in the CCTV image or has any other information is asked to phone DC David Whitehead on 01843 222185, quoting crime reference ZY/23370/12, or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.