Shopkeeper threatened with a knife 'as long as your arm' by robber

2022-11-30

Terrifying moment shopkeeper is threatened with a knife ‘as long as your arm’ by robber who leapt over the counter and raided the till

Anna Patel, 63, was robbed at knife-point at her shop in Radford, Nottingham
She tried to protect herself from the ‘arm’s length’ knife using a chair
Nicole Johnson leapt over the counter, pushing Ms Patel away to get to the till
The business owner of over 40 years will not return to work after the robbery

A shocking video shows the moment a shopkeeper is confronted and threatened at knife-point by a robber who jumped over the counter to get to the till.

CCTV cameras captured the footage of a woman pulling out a knife, which was said to be ‘as long as your arm’, on a shopkeeper in Radford, Nottingham.

Anna Patel, 63, who owns Pricewise in Radford Road, bravely attempted to stop Nicole Johnson, 21, from getting around the counter as she brandished the dangerous knife.

The video shows Johnson frantically grabbing items from behind the counter, along with money from the register, as Ms Patel courageously pushes her away despite being met with the huge knife.

Recalling the traumatic incident, which happened on June 29, the shopkeeper said she ‘didn’t think much of it’ until Johnson tried to get around the counter.

Although Ms Patel attempted to explain to Johnson that customers are not allowed behind the counter, she was met with violence and was pushed away.

‘I said tell me what you want and I’ll bring it to you. I tried to protect myself with the chair and she started stabbing it. She said ‘this is what I’ll do to you’. I had never seen a knife like that, it was longer than your arm’s length,’ Ms Patel said.

Ms Patel, of Compton Acres, struggled against Johnson for around 20 minutes before the thug leapt over the counter and began pressing every button on the till until it opened.

The video footage caught on CCTV cameras shows Johnson frantically grabbing items from behind the counter with the knife in her hand as Ms Patel bravely confronts her

Thankfully, the 63-year-old was able to run behind Johnson and flagged down a passing police car – the robber was arrested two days later.

Johnson, of Trowell Road in Wollaton received four years and eight months in prison for robbery, and one year and one month concurrently for possessing the knife after pleading guilty.

She is likely to serve two-thirds before her release on licence.

Ms Patel said the experience was part of the reason she would not be returning to work at the shop. She spoke of how only three months later a man came into the shop and demanded she hand over bottles of alcohol.

‘I have been here 40 years and haven’t gone through this hell,’ she said.

‘As much as I love the shop, it’s part of the reason I’m not going back. You should be able to go into work and feel safe’.

‘Even the police asked whether I’ve thought about retiring. The area is heavily populated with drug users and they have worn the area down into the ground.’

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