By . Lucy Crossley . This is the moment a 'worse for wear' student was attacked by a 'hugger mugger' who squeezed his throat until he lost consciousness before stealing his  £5,000 Rolex. The 24-year-old had been on a night out in central London when his attacker began talking to him about martial arts and acting out restraint moves. As the student turned around, the attacker suddenly put his arm across his throat and squeezed, causing the victim’s legs to crumple as he passed out briefly and fell to the ground. Scroll down for video . Attack: This is the moment a 'worse for wear' student (front) was attacked by a 'hugger mugger' who squeezed his throat until he lost consciousness before stealing his £5,000 Rolex . The suspect then ripped the victim’s . watch, a £5,000 Rolex Submariner with a silver bracelet and black face, . off his wrist and fled. Detectives investigating the attack have today released CCTV footage of the incident, which happened near Regents Street, in an attempt to track down the suspect, who they described as a 'hugger mugger'. 'The suspect targeted his victim carefully, choosing someone who was a bit the worse for wear after a night out, alone and smartly dressed,' said Investigating officer Detective constable Michael Heaney. 'The method he uses is not something we have seen before in this area and is a concern. 'Had the suspect applied more pressure the victim could have been far more seriously injured. Approach: The student (right) was walking along Regents Street in central London, and the attacker had been chatting to him about martial arts moves . Hunt: Detectives investigating the attack have released CCTV footage of the incident in an attempt to track down the suspect, who they described as a 'hugger mugger' 'As it was, he was just badly shaken.' Dc Heaney is appealing for witnesses to the incident which happened near Regents Street, at around 3.35am on Saturday May 10. Scotland Yard said the attacker told the victim he was Algerian. He was wearing a dark baseball-type jacket, dark blue jeans and a black baseball cap, and was described as bald with stubble, 5ft 8ins and of muscular build.
Student, 24, was on a night out in central London when he was attacked .
Suspect was talking to the victim before he put his arm across his throat .
Squeezing caused the student's legs to crumple and he passed out .
Attacker ripped the victim's £5,000 Rolex Submariner .
off his wrist and fled .
Police say they have not seen this method of attack used before in the area .
By . Lucy Crossley . This is the moment a 'worse for wear' student was attacked by a 'hugger mugger' who squeezed his throat until he lost consciousness before stealing his  £5,000 Rolex. The 24-year-old had been on a night out in central London when his attacker began talking to him about martial arts and acting out restraint moves. As the student turned around, the attacker suddenly put his arm across his throat and squeezed, causing the victim’s legs to crumple as he passed out briefly and fell to the ground. Scroll down for video . Attack: This is the moment a 'worse for wear' student (front) was attacked by a 'hugger mugger' who squeezed his throat until he lost consciousness before stealing his £5,000 Rolex . The suspect then ripped the victim’s . watch, a £5,000 Rolex Submariner with a silver bracelet and black face, . off his wrist and fled. Detectives investigating the attack have today released CCTV footage of the incident, which happened near Regents Street, in an attempt to track down the suspect, who they described as a 'hugger mugger'. 'The suspect targeted his victim carefully, choosing someone who was a bit the worse for wear after a night out, alone and smartly dressed,' said Investigating officer Detective constable Michael Heaney. 'The method he uses is not something we have seen before in this area and is a concern. 'Had the suspect applied more pressure the victim could have been far more seriously injured. Approach: The student (right) was walking along Regents Street in central London, and the attacker had been chatting to him about martial arts moves . Hunt: Detectives investigating the attack have released CCTV footage of the incident in an attempt to track down the suspect, who they described as a 'hugger mugger' 'As it was, he was just badly shaken.' Dc Heaney is appealing for witnesses to the incident which happened near Regents Street, at around 3.35am on Saturday May 10. Scotland Yard said the attacker told the victim he was Algerian. He was wearing a dark baseball-type jacket, dark blue jeans and a black baseball cap, and was described as bald with stubble, 5ft 8ins and of muscular build.
The 24-year-old had been on a night out in central London when his attacker began talking to suddenly put his arm across his throat and squeezed, causing the victim’s legs to crumple as he passed out briefly and fell to the ground. ripped the victim’s . watch, a £5,000 Rolex . off his wrist and fled. Detectives something we have seen before in this area and is attacker told the victim he was Algerian. He was