Brave Murti fends off armed robber with a mop

A shopkeeper today told how she fended off an armed robber after grabbing a mop and chasing him from her Staffordshire store on the "spur of the moment".

When gun-wielding masked raider Ben Chambers told Murti Mall to hand over the takings after bursting into Pop-In Pantry in Penkridge, she first tried to rip his balaclava off then chased him out of the shop clutching her mop.

The grandmother-of-three stopped only after he fired a shot in her direction.

Today she spoke of her ordeal after Chambers was found guilty of the attack, but insisted she does not consider herself to be a heroine.

Reliving the drama, the 58 year-old said a buzzer made her aware someone had entered the shop but could not see the attacker until he leaped out.

"This chap just jumped out from behind the freezers. He had a gun in one hand and a bag in the other. When he jumped out I was in shock. He said give me the money, pushing the bag towards me.

"It was an immediate reaction, I just grabbed his hand and his balaclava saying let me have a look at you.

"I was trying to rip his balaclava off his head to see who I was dealing with.

"Then he ran back towards the door. The mop was there and I just wanted something to hit him with.

"I don't know what I would do if it happened again, it was just one of those spur of the moment things. My first reaction was to defend my shop and myself. People say I was either stupid or brave but it was a bit of both really.

"I wasn't worried about my safety at the time, later on when he ran off I was worried about my grandson and found him behind the counter."

Chambers was yesterday convicted at Stafford Crown Court of attempted robbery and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery.

The jury saw CCTV footage of Mrs Mall tackling the gunman. She was alone apart from her 30 month old grandson.

Chambers' DNA was found on a bag he dropped as he fled and the balaclava later found at his home. He claimed he had been elsewhere that night.

The 20-year-old, of Old Coach Road, Bishops Wood, near Brewood, was bailed for reports but warned he faced a jail sentence.