A MAN was left needing hospital treatment after being stabbed twice when he refused to hand over his mobile phone at a park.

The 21-year-old victim was with his girlfriend in Saunders Park off Lewes Road, Brighton at around 2.30pm on Wednesday, April 12, when he was approached by four men who tried to extort his phone.

As soon as he refused, he was punched in the face and then stabbed twice with a knife in his hip resulting in a small puncture wound that was treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Three of the suspects are white and one is black, all in their early 20s.

The man who stabbed the victim is described as white, around 6ft and of slim build.

He has a blond or brown goatee beard and was wearing a navy blue hooded top.

Another of the men is described as having long, straggly blond/brown hair.

All four suspects ran away from the scene via the Shabitat exit towards Sainsbury's in Lewes road, Brighton.

Anyone who witnessed the attack or has any information about the incident is asked to contact Sussex Police using the eform at sussex.police.uk/contact-us/response-to-appeal/ or call 101 quoting serial 871 of 12/04.