Brave shopkeeper sticks one on thief

Cowardly knife robber fled after petrified victim hit back

- BY FILIPA GASPAR

CCTV footage captured the moment a shopkeeper grabbed his walking stick and saw off a robber who came at him with a large knife.

Eksteen De Villiers, 27 entered the convenience store with the blade and demanded money from the till.

He then lunged towards the plucky shop boss, who feared he would die but gave him what for with his stick.

Cowardly De Villiers who tried to hide his face with a balaclava and hood repeated his demand for cash but fled, grabbing two bottles of spirits.

Police identified him from security video which showed him without his disguise before entering the shop.

He was arrested and officers seized the knife and bottles of alcohol.

Clothing matching that worn by the robber was found in a wooded area near the shop near Lydney, Glos.