A BRAVE shopworker has been awarded a gold medal for his actions after knife-wielding robbers entered the store and threatened staff.
Martin Storey, of Llangollen, was working at Co-operative on Regent Street, Llangollen, when two men entered the shop with their faces covered last January.
Both males produced kitchen knives and demanded money from the till while holding a knife to the throat of another member of staff.
Mr Storey made his way to the front doors and activated the security override, effectively locking the robbers in the shop without them knowing.
Once the cashier had handed over the money, the two offenders attempted to flee the shop – then realised they were locked in.
A North Wales Police spokesman said: “At this point Mr Storey stepped forward and tackled one of the offenders to the ground – despite the fact that both males still held the knives.
“A violent struggle followed during which Mr Storey removed the hood and scarf that was hiding one of the male’s faces, which allowed him to be subsequently identified on CCTV.”
Mr Storey was punched on his face and the two offenders broke away and
ran to the rear fire exit to escape.
Mr Storey was presented with a gold medal in the ACPO Public Bravery Awards 2012 last night in Manchester.
Both offenders were sentenced at crown court, after guilty pleas, to 54 months at a young offender institution last May.