Moment of terror as robber attacks Dudley gran

These CCTV images show the terrifying moment a 79-year-old shopkeeper was confronted by a hooded robber brandishing a carving knife.

Grandmother Cynthia Burgin today spoke for the first time about her ordeal at the hands of serial thief Andrew Homer who stormed into her Dudley shop demanding cash and threatening to stab her.

Despite the robbery, in which she suffered two cuts to her arms, Mrs Burgin, now aged 80, has vowed to continue working at the family business saying: "I won't let it stop me."

The CCTV footage shows widow Mrs Burgin being approached by Homer as she re-stocks shelves. He pushes the mother-of-one round to the back of the counter as he threatens her with the knife.

She is seen protectively putting her arm out in front of her grandsons Rhys and Alex Williams, who are at the back of the shop.

There is a brief struggle before Homer barges his way through to the cash till.

He is then seen leaping over the counter and fleeing with £35, chased by 30-year-old Rhys while 26-year-old Alex rings the police.

Homer, aged 35, of Halesowen Road, Halesowen, was arrested just eight minutes later after Rhys flagged down a passing police car.

Mrs Burgin, whose family have run the Burgins News since 1868, described last July's raid as "terrifying".

She said it had been a "natural" response to put her arm out to shield her grandsons from the knife.

Mrs Burgin added: "I realise now how extremely lucky I was. It could have been a lot worse had I been on my own - I could have been seriously hurt."

It is not the first time she has found herself confronted by robbers. In 1999, she fought off an armed raider with an electric cable.

National President of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents Parminder Singh today praised Mrs Burgin for her bravery.

Homer, who pleaded guilty to robbery, was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday to five years in jail, of which he will serve half. He will then be on licence for seven-and-a-half years.

Our video ends with the assailant brandishing the knife.

By Heather Large