A THIEF stole valuable jewellery from a shop assistant during a robbery at a North-East boutique this afternoon.

The offender entered the Bedevilled Boutique on West Dyke Road, Redcar, at about 12.35pm.

He held a blunt instrument against the victim's neck and stole the contents of the till, plus a watch and four rings from the frightened woman.

The watch is a Tag Heuer Carrera with cylindrical diamonds for numbers and valued at £2,000.

The rings are described as a gold wedding ring with a half moon shaped diamond, a gold hand-made engagement ring with a circular cluster of diamonds, a gold eternity ring with five identical diamonds in a crescent shape and a ring with a single diamond on a solitaire.

The thief ran off in the direction of Westbourne Grove and Milbank Terrace.

He is described as white, 5ft 10 to 5ft 11ins tall with a gaunt face and wearing a grey hooded top with a darker grey stripe down the arm. He was sweating profusely at the time of the offence.

PC Gary Morgan of Cleveland Police said: "The offender has caused tremendous trauma to a lone female victim during the middle of a busy shopping day.

"We are very keen to find this man and bring him to justice."

He appealed to anyone with information on the man's identity to come forward.

PC Morgan also asked local jewellers and traders to keep an eye open for any distinctive jewellery matching the description of the stolen items Anyone with information is asked to contact Redcar CID on 01642-326326.