Passers-by ignored a teenage girl who pleaded for help as she was mugged in a busy city centre street.

At least three people walked past Carla Pilote, 17, as she was attacked in Western Road in Brighton on Monday at about 7pm.

Miss Pilote was walking to the Alliance and Leicester to withdraw cash when a beggar approached her and asked her for change near the BT shop.

When she said she did not have any, he snatched her wallet and emptied the contents on the ground in front of her.

Miss Pilote said: "He took out £5 I didn't even know I had and put it in his back pocket.

"I was trying to get my wallet back from him but I didn't try too hard because I was very frightened and scared he would hit me.

"He was swearing at me and denying he had the money. I was crying and shouting at people to help me but no one did.

"I told them he was trying to rob me but three or four people just looked at me as if I was mad and ignored me. They were just inches away but no one stopped to help. That was actually worse than him grabbing my purse."

As the would-be thief ran off the £5 note dropped from his back pocket. The offender is believed to have approached a woman minutes earlier and asked for change for the bus.

The offender was 5ft 7in tall, had brown hair and spoke with a strong Scots accent.