POLICE hunting a woman who kneed a Tesco worker in the groin and bit him as he tried to detain her for shoplifting have released a CCTV image.

They have appealed for information about the woman pictured after an incident in Tesco Express in Poole Road, Bournemouth.

Officers were alerted after a woman filled her basket with various meat products at around 6.35pm on Friday April 9.

At around 8.30pm on the same day the same woman returned to the store and was recognised by a staff member from the earlier incident.

Rolex watch and pearls stolen in Bournemouth burglary

Two staff members approached the woman and made attempts to detain her, but she became aggressive and kneed one of the men in the groin and bit his hand.

The woman left the shop and officers attended and carried out a search of the area to try and locate her.

Police Constable Rachael Birch, of Bournemouth police, said: "This was a nasty assault on a staff member that left him with visible injuries."

Information to Dorset Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 55210056018, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.