THIS is the moment a 12-year-old boy was violently grabbed by a man following a playground brawl.

Shocking video footage shows Charlie Back being grabbed and slammed against a parked car before being held on the ground.

His family said it followed a fight between Charlie and another boy, which left Charlie with a black eye, in a park in Whitehawk last week.

To his parent's horror, the furious father of the other boy caught up with Charlie, leaving Charlie shaken and scared to leave his home.

CCTV footage obtained by The Argus shows the man, wearing a blue top, grabbing Charlie and colliding against a car. Then holding him to the ground.

Charlie's dad Daniel said: "It was quite hard watching at first.

"We watched the first few minutes then that was it, I was like 'I can't watch that'.

"Obviously your temper riles up.

"Charlie fears for his own safety. On going out at the minute, he is a bit on edge in case he was to bump into him.

"He did say at the time 'when he had me on the floor, I thought I was going to die'."

In the footage, Charlie can be seen screaming in fear and curling up on the floor before another man pulls the man off.

Seconds later, Charlie returns to his feet and runs to his home, where his parents were waiting for him.

Charlie's parents realised the incident had been caught on camera.

His horrified mother Cherrie shared the video on Facebook.

A spokesman from Sussex Police said: "Police are investigating a report of an altercation involving a group of youths and a man at Brighton Racecourse at 6.35pm on Monday, June 14.

"Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

"Anyone with information or who witnessed what happened can report online or call 101, quoting 1321 of 14/06."