DETECTIVES have released an image of a man they wish to speak to in connection with a robbery and assault at a gaming arcade.

The offences happened after two customers walked into Quicksilver Arcade in Newport Street and approached a bank of slot machines.

The staff member on duty at the time noticed that one of the men was using a special key which forces the machine to pay out.

She confronted the man and stood in the way of the machine in an attempt to stop him taking any more money.  

The man grabbed her and threw her to one side and then stuffed handfuls of pound coins into his pockets before he and his accomplice left.

They escaped with around £120 in loose change.

It happened at around 6.40pm on Tuesday April 12 and now Greater Manchester Police have issued a CCTV still of a man they wish to trace and speak to in connection with the robbery and assault.
  
Detective Constable Christopher Hickey said: "I would first of all like to commend the bravery of this victim to try and prevent these men from carrying out their robbery.
 
"Unfortunately they showed no mercy and as a result of that assault, the man in question was able to walk away with some of the cash they had tricked the machine into paying out.
 
"It demonstrates how low these men are, pushing a defenceless woman out of the way so they can desperately shovel pound coins they did not win, or earn, into their own pockets.
 
"Thankfully the woman was left unhurt, but we are very keen to speak to the man pictured.
 
“If you recognise him, please contact police as a matter of urgency.”

The first offender is described as white, around 5ft 5in tall, with brown hair which was gelled and combed forward.

He was wearing a black coat, navy blue top, light blue jeans and walked with a limp.
 
The second offender is described as white, around 5ft 6in tall, with a large build.

He was wearing a black baseball cap, a black body warmer over a black jumper and black tracksuit bottoms. 

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 120416/1771 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.