A man needs £16,000 of medical treatment after being attacked in a park in broad daylight.

Paul Collins, 54, was elbowed in the face after refusing to give a man a cigarette and money, smashing his dentures and fracturing his jaw.

The married father of two is considering taking a loan to pay for replacement teeth and facial reconstruction after he was refused NHS treatment.

Mr Collins, who sold his milk delivery business 15 years ago after a mental breakdown, was attacked while walking through Beach House Park in Brighton Road, Worthing.

Mr Collins, of Edmonton Road, Durrington, Worthing, said: “I suffer from depression and go on a walk every morning because it gives me great relief. I was walking through the park when someone approached me from behind.

“I turned around and was shocked because he was so close.

“He asked me for a cigarette and I refused.

“Then he became very aggressive and came within two inches of my face, swearing and shouting, saying he was going to take everything I had. I could tell he was on a different planet with drugs so I thought I could run away.

“But as I tried to move he elbowed me in the mouth.

“My mouth was pouring blood and there were superficial cuts around my lips.

“I looked around and he was running away.”

Mr Collins was attacked on June 22 between 8am and 8.30am.

He needs eight mouth implants costing £2,000 each, which he claims the NHS will not fund because it is not deemed vital. He said: “I need a complete top and bottom set of teeth, implants to rebuild by jaw and a skin graft in my mouth.

“The attack has turned by life upside down.

“Since then, my life has been hospitals, police stations and looking over my shoulder.

But I’m not going to let this ruin me. I have been back to where I was attacked because I won’t let this get the better of me.”

Police have described the attacker as black, about 5ft 11in, aged between 20 and 22 years, thin build, unshaven with short black hair and blue eyes.

He spoke with a Birmingham accent and had a tattoo on his left forearm, two gold rings on his left hand and two similar rings on his right hand.

He was also had a gold digital watch with a black leather strap, wearing a white T-shirt with a motif similar to a lion, blue jeans with a black leather belt and blue trainers.

Witnesses should call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.