A teenage driver was put through a terrifying ordeal when two young thieves jumped into the back of his car.

They forced him to drive round before attacking him and stealing stereo equipment from his vehicle.

The 19-year-old driver, from Hailsham, had stopped his black Vauxhall Nova in Hailsham High Street to talk to a friend when the pair got in and ordered him to drive away.

After half an hour driving around the area, they forced him to stop near garages in Dacre Park on the Town Farm estate.

The driver was dragged from his car and assaulted before managing to run off and get help.

Equipment worth about £200 was stolen, including an amplifier and sub-woofer speaker.

Police want to trace anyone who saw the offenders get in the car at 5.30pm on Wednesday or who saw the car in the Town Farm area of Hailsham.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Hailsham police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.