A heroic shop owner saw off an armed raider by trying to wrestle a gun from his grasp as her two-yearold grandson cowered behind the counter.
The balaclava-clad thug repeatedly yelled “give me the f***ing money” as he held his weapon to the face of Ram Murti Mall during a raid on Poppins Pantry, in Penkridge, on Friday evening.
But 57-year-old Mrs Mall, whose grandson Ravi was hiding in fear, grabbed the offender’s arm in an attempt to make him drop the gun.
The spooked robber fled the Cannock Road store, leaving his bag behind, and Mrs Mall watched from the doorway as his getaway car pulled up.
The offender fired a shot in Mrs Mall’s direction before making his escape.
Modest Mrs Mall said she was not a heroine - and would not recommend others following her example.
She said: “What I did was totally instinctive.
If I’d have been behind the counter at the time, I’d have almost certainly opened the till and handed over the cash.
“I would urge others in the same situation not to try to be brave - I don’t want to be seen as a hero.
“The police said at the time I was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid I said I was probably a bit of both.” Mrs Mall and little Ravi were playing in the back room when they heard a customer enter at 9.15pm.
When Mrs Mall looked in the store, noone was there, but the raider was hiding and jumped out when Mrs Mall walked past.
She said: “He was wearing a balaclava, holding a money bag in one hand and his gun in the other.
“He kept saying ‘give me the money’, but I said we had none. Then, he put his gun right up to my face and looked me in the eye.
“I didn’t really think, I just grabbed the arm holding the gun and tried to take off his mask. I think that surprised him.
“The most frightening moment was when he ran outside and, just before getting in his getaway car, stared at me and fired a shot in my direction.
“I ran inside, locked the door, rang the police and called out for my grandson, who didn’t respond, but then I heard crying coming from behind the counter.
“I held him and comforted him while the police were on their way.” Armed officers cordoned off the surrounding area as forensic experts took samples from the scene.
Anyone with information should contact Staffordshire Police on 0300 1234455 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
