THIS was the dramatic moment a shopkeeper bravely fought off one of four masked robbers who raided his store and escaped with just 10 packets of cigarettes.
Jaswinder Bhathal, who owns Bhathal News, in Mercaston Road, Chaddesden, was left with a bruised and swollen face and a bloody nose.
His wife, Sati, said: "When I saw him afterwards, it was really upsetting as his face was out here. It makes me feel nervous that something like this can happen – they can do that much damage for just 10 packets of cigarettes."
Police have released this CCTV image of Thursday night's attack. They want anyone who recognises the raider to get in touch. He is believed to be in his 20s or 30s.
There were reports of other criminal incidents in the area on the same night but at the moment police cannot say whether they are linked.
The robbery took place at 7.20pm. Two men wearing hats and scarves barged their way in behind the counter where Mr Bhathal stood. One started punching him while the other helped himself to cigarettes. Another raider held the door open and a fourth remained outside.
Mr Bhathal, 42, pushed the man back as he was punched in the face about four or five times. He then shouted for his cousin, who was in the back of the shop. As soon as the cousin appeared, the men fled.
Mrs Bhathal, 39, said her husband felt something metal between the attacker's hand and glove, "bashing his face". She said: "He hit him in the head and in the eye."
The couple, who have four-year-old twin boys, have had the shop for two years. Mrs Bhathal said they were now making the counter area more secure and were considering getting a dog. She said: "We are going to make sure there is always more than one person here now."
Barry Dean, 62, who does repair work for the Bhathal family, said: "They are a lovely family who have worked hard for what they've got and for people to do what they did and take what's not theirs is a disgrace."
Louise Domini, who owns a hair salon in Wollaton Road, around the corner from Bhathal News, arrived yesterday morning to find someone had tried to break in during the night.
She said there were marks on the outside of the door that looked as if someone had used a screwdriver-like tool in an attempt to enter. There were also marks on windows at the rear of the property.
She was told a neighbour had looked out of his window at 3am and saw three people acting suspiciously around the property – when they saw him, they ran off.
Another incident was an attempted car break-in at 12.30am yesterday in nearby Winster Road.
