A robber bit his victim to force him to release his mobile phone.

A 21-year-old Chinese man was walking to home through Stratford Park at West Ham Lane listening to music on his phone on August 1 at 8pm.

As he got to the entrance near to Vicarage Lane he was attacked and punched from behind and fell to the ground.

The attacker reached into the man’s pocket and grabbed the mobile.

But his victim fought back and as the robber turned away he grabbed him.

During a short struggle the robber bit the victim on the finger making the man release his phone and his grip of him

He fled towards West Ham Lane on a bicycle,

Crime Prevention Officer PC Brian Walker said: “Don’t advertise your mobile phone to a thief. Try not to listen to music via ear phones especially when walking anywhere alone and at night - if you are being approached from behind you wont hear.

“If your phone is high value, register it on the Immobilise website – it is an effective tool to help fight crime.”