Brave shopkeeper used milk crate to fight off women holding knife

TWO masked and hooded women raided a corner shop with a knife and demanded money from the lone member of staff, a court has heard.

- JASON EVANS Reporter [e-mail]

> Bethan John > Jessie Thompson

The shopkeeper grabbed a plastic milk crate to defend himself from Bethan John and Jessie Thompson who subsequently fled empty-handed, discarding the knife in a hedge.

When the pair were located by police they told the officer they had been planning to hand themselves in after the weekend.

Jailing them, a judge at Swansea Crown Court said the courts would always act to protect vulnerable shop workers.

Brian Simpson, prosecuting, told the court that, shortly before noon on Friday, July 11, this year, John and Thompson entered the Pil Corner Stores in Milford Haven with the hoods of their coats up and their faces covered by bandanas.

He said the shopkeeper did not know the names of the women but recognised them as having been in the store previously.

The prosecutor said that, based on the pair’s demeanour and appearance, the shopkeeper concluded they were “up to no good”.

The court heard that Thompson produced a large knife from under her coat and pointed it at the shop worker, with both women then demanding he hand over all the money.

The prosecutor said the shopkeeper pushed the knife away then picked up a plastic milk crate to defend himself and began swinging it at the intruders.