This CCTV shows the dramatic moments an elderly shopkeeper armed herself with a mop and chased a masked gunman from her South Staffordshire store.

The terrifying episode was witnessed by the woman’s two-and-a-half-year-old grandson and captured on CCTV when it took place at the Pop-In Pantry corner shop in Penkridge.

The footage was today released by detectives after 20-year-old Benjamin Chambers received a six-year jail term for carrying out the raid.

The CCTV shows him walking into the store and brandishing the weapon in the face of 58-year-old Murti Mall, who sprung into action and pushed the gun away before attempting to rip the balaclava from Chambers’ face.

The brave grandmother is then seen grabbing a mop and chasing the gunman out of the store before Chambers turned and fired a shot in her direction as he fled.

Today, Judge Mark Eades praised the bravery of Mrs Mall and awarded her £250 from public funds.

He said: “Mrs Mall displayed great courage in resisting the defendant and as a result of her actions assisted in the defendant being apprehended and arrested.”

Stafford Crown Court heard previously that Chambers, of Old Coach Road, Bishops Wood, near Brewood, had gone into the store late on August 27, 2010.

After walking in he casually walked around before jumping out from behind a set of freezers and pointing the weapon at Mrs Mall. Her young grandson was behind the counter of the shop as she grappled with Chambers.

After the drama unfolded, a bag containing Chambers’ DNA was found at the store.

The court heard he had dropped it as he fled.

Chambers pleaded not guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery, but a jury saw through his claims that he was elsewhere on the night of the crime and convicted him.

Miss Wendy Miller, for Chambers, said he had no previous convictions and he and his family were “devastated” at the realisation he would receive a lengthy custodial sentence.

Sentencing Chambers today, Judge Eades said it was clear that Chambers had gone to the shop in Penkridge for the purpose of carrying out the robbery.

He added: “Inside the shop was an elderly lady with her grandchild. Your belief was at that time of night, you could carry out that robbery on that vulnerable person in that shop without real risk to yourself. But you were thwarted because she displayed huge courage and presence of mind. She tackled you. She resisted.

“The consequence of that was that you fled empty handed. For her it must have been one of the most frightening experiences of her life, the sort of thing a shopkeeper dreads more than anything else.”

Reliving the drama, Mrs Mall said a buzzer made her aware someone had entered the shop but could not see the attacker until he leaped out. “This chap just jumped out from behind the freezers,” she told the Express & Star previously.

“He had a gun in one hand and a bag in the other. When he jumped out I was in shock. He said give me the money, pushing the bag towards me. It was an immediate reaction, I just grabbed his hand and his balaclava saying, ‘Let me have a look at you’.

“I was trying to rip his balaclava off his head to see who I was dealing with.

“Then he ran back towards the door. The mop was there and I just wanted something to hit him with. I don’t know what I would do if it happened again.

“My first reaction was to defend my shop and myself. People say I was either stupid or brave but it was a bit of both really.

“I wasn’t worried about my safety at the time, later on when he ran off I was worried about my grandson and found him behind the counter.”