Shopkeeper fights off knife-wielding robber who tries to steal cigarettes

A shopkeeper fought off a hooded knife-wielding robber who was desperate for cigarettes for his sick 80-a-day smoker mum.

A judge said bosses of Andrea Rose, who was working alone at the time, should be proud after she sent 53-year-old Andrew Martin packing.

The brave employee then followed the crook and snapped a photo of him, helping to identify him as the culprit.

Penniless Martin later told police he didn't know who was more scared during the confrontation - him or her.

He had reached "breaking point" as his elderly with dementia, who he said smoked "like a chimney", had run out of cigarettes.

Martin decided to rob a shop, wearing a hood pulled tight over his face and surgical gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints.