A 16-year-old girl was pulled to the ground by a man who ran at her from behind.
The victim was walking in Arundel Road, near Fletcher's Field, in Angmering, at about 10.30pm on Wednesday (1 October) when a man ran at her from behind and pulled her to the ground.
The teenager fought herself free from the man, who ran away towards the nearby graveyard. The victim then raised the alarm.
The attacker was white and was wearing a brown hooded top.
Detective Constable Pete Parkinson said: "This must have been a terrifying experience for the victim, who also hurt her knee and lip in the fall.
"We urgently need to speak to anyone who was in the Arundel Road area on Wednesday evening who may have seen the man acting suspiciously.
"The man had been sitting on a bench in Fletcher's Field before the attack and people passing by may have seen him.
"If you saw or heard anything out of the ordinary, or recognise the description of the man, please contact us."
Anyone with information should email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 1680 of 01/10, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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