This is the man who kidnapped a teenager at knifepoint and threatened to kill her.

Police today issued this CD-fit of the offender and appealed to anyone recognising him to come forward.

Detectives are following several lines of inquiries provided by readers who responded to a police appeal in The Argus.

The 17-year-old student was repeatedly threatened with the knife.

At one point, the man cut off some of the girl's hair with the knife.

After 20 minutes he left his terrified victim and walked away. Police believe the girl's bravery in holding a conversation with him saved her from possible rape and murder.

The girl was walking home and was in Tenantry Down Road, Brighton, near the junction with Bear Road, at about 10.30pm on Tuesday when the man approached.

He grabbed her hair and made her walk into the nearby allotments. He made her throw away her mobile phone and sit down.

Minutes after the man left, the victim ran to the road and flagged down a taxi. She called police from her home.

The attacker is 5ft 8in, of big build, in his early 30s, possibly bald, balding or with a shaved head and had a distinctive goatee beard.

He was wearing a black bomber jacket, dark coloured tracksuit-type trousers and a scarf and dark hat covering his face. He may walk with a limp.

Police are especially keen to talk to a dog-walker and to motorists in the area at the time.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Constable Mo Dando at Brighton CID on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.