THREE men fled empty-handed after they failed to steal cash and a mobile phone from an engineer in Swanscombe.

The 32-year-old Swanscombe man was walking home after a night out at the George and Dragon pub, in London Road, when three men got out of a green or beige-coloured people carrier outside the Alma pub in High Street.

They demanded cash and the man’s mobile phone but he backed away and told them he did not have anything.

The three men started to leave but then approached him again and tried to grab and punch him.

The victim managed to get away but in the struggle lost a gold tooth.

His attackers then drove off towards London Road.

Police are appealing for information about the incident, which happened at around 11.45pm on Sunday, December 30.

All three men were white. One was aged 18 to 24, 5ft 10in tall and had short mid-brown hair. The other two were younger, aged 15 to 17 and 5ft 6in tall with short dark hair.

If you have information which may help police with their inquiries, call PC Aaron Hammond at Gravesend police station on 01474 565064 or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.