A shopkeeper in Leicester, England, defended his store from a hammer-wielding robber by striking the assailant with a stick, then managed to photograph the suspect, leading to his arrest. The incident occurred on November 4, 2026, when Jason Williams, 52, entered Vijay Sivan's convenience store, King Richards News, wearing a motorcycle helmet and demanding cash.
Williams brandished a knife and hammer, handing Mr. Sivan a bag to fill. However, Mr. Sivan, 45, grabbed a wooden stick he kept behind the counter for safety and drove Williams out of the store. After the robber fled, Mr. Sivan followed him outside, observing him park a motorbike and cover its license plate with a plastic bag. Mr. Sivan used his stick to remove the bag, enabling him to take a photograph of the license plate, which he then provided to the police.
Williams pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of possession of a bladed article at Leicester Crown Court on October 19. Mr. Sivan described the incident as scary due to the robber's masked appearance but stated that things have since returned to normal. However, his wife is now afraid to work in the shop, leaving him to manage it alone as they cannot afford additional security measures.
Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on November 5.