Shocking moment armed thugs point their gun at terrified shopkeeper during a robbery

An elderly shop owner in Nottinghamshire was left terrified after a gang armed with guns and knives stole thousands of pounds of goods from his store.

Shocking CCTV footage shows Joshua Woods, Callum Groves and Jack Weston trying in vain to grab the cash register from the counter. At the same time, they threatened their 76-year-old victim at the Deepak Foodstore in Chilwell on September 23 last year.

Frustrated, the trio then decided to vandalize the corner shop before ransacking the cigarette shop and fleeing in a getaway car. The elderly shopkeeper suffered minor injuries after being stopped by one of the group and fearing he would be shot dead – unaware the gun was fake.

The incident terrorized the poor shopkeeper so much that he now anxiously watches his CCTV footage every time someone enters his shop.

The robbers were brought before a judge at Nottingham Crown Court on April 19 to answer for their crime. A police investigation launched in the aftermath of the robbery tracked the gang across the county border into Leicestershire, where the three men lived.

Woods was the first of the trio to be tracked down, with officers raiding his home and seizing a BB gun that had been spray-painted black to look like a real firearm. In the following weeks, detectives also found Groves and Weston. The 29-year-old from Leicester, who also has two daughters, was jailed for four years and three months.

Matt Hayes, his lawyer, said: “There is evidence in this case that drugs are a feature of Mr Woods’ life. He was faced with financial pressure and money was needed and he got involved in this venture and now he has to face the consequences. He has the support of his family and employer.”

Meanwhile, Groves, a 25-year-old father of two, also from Leicester, was sent to prison for four years. His sentence was slightly reduced because he pleaded guilty on an earlier occasion. Laura Pitman, mitigating, said: “Everyone who knows and loves him is shocked to the core, especially Mr Groves’ mother.

“She has a very important job in the NHS and when she found out her son had been arrested and why, it changed her life forever. They understand that he needs to be punished, just like him. Against a backdrop of financial pressure he committed this disgusting offense out of desperation.”

In addition, 23-year-old Weston from Leicester was also sentenced to four years and three months in prison. Lucky Thandi, his lawyer, said: “He is realistic and knows he faces a prison sentence of some length. He has never been arrested by the police before. It’s clear this wasn’t his plan.”

Detective Inspector Nathan Bingham, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The actions of Groves, Weston and Woods that evening were cowardly and abhorrent in equal measure.”