Man grabbed in headlock after refusing to hand over a lighter in Northampton

Police are appealing for help following an attack at the weekend on a man who refused to let a stranger use a lighter.

Officers investigating the incident are looking for a man in his 20s after what they believe was an attempted robbery at about 5.45am on Saturday (March 21) in Penistone Walk, in the Lumbertubs area of Northampton.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "The incident happened after a man crossed the road at the zebra crossing and approached another man asking him for a lighter. When the man refused, the offender got him in a headlock, breaking his glasses and cutting his forehead, before making off towards Arbour Court.

"The offender is a white man in his 20s, about 5ft 8in, of muscly build and wearing a light-coloured grey tracksuit with the hood up and a dark-coloured scarf covering his mouth. He also wore dark-coloured gloves and trainers.

"Anybody who may have seen someone matching this descripton or may have information, we would ask them to call us on 101."