Brighton shopkeeper fights off armed robber

A shopkeeper used a broken chair leg to fight off a man armed with a knife who tried to rob his Brighton convenience store.

A Sussex Police detective described the 44-year-old shopkeeper as brave after the thwarted raid at the Coombe Road Convenience Store in Coombe Road, Brighton, yesterday (Sunday 21 October).

The would-be robber went into the shop at about 7.30am wearing a grey striped hooded top that was pulled up over his face.

He pointed a 6in knife at the shopkeeper and demanded money.

In the struggle that followed, the shopkeeper fought off the suspect with the leg of broken chair.

A few minutes later the knifeman left the store with both the knife and chair leg and headed towards Lewes Road.

He was described as white and between 5ft 8in and 6ft tall.

The chair leg was found in alley way off Coombe Road a short time later and will be forensically examined.

No other customers or staff were in the shop at the time of the incident.

Detective Sergeant Steve Warner, from Brighton and Hove CID, said: “The shopkeeper was very brave in fighting off a man armed with a knife but the outcome could have been very different and fortunately he was not injured.

“Officers will be continuing today (Monday 22 October) with house to house inquires and viewing CCTV.”

Anyone with information was asked to call Sussex Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.