A Sittingbourne shopkeeper has described the terrifying moment he was robbed by two teenagers at knifepoint.

Rohit Singh Mehta was working at Kent Mart, in Station Road, when two youths came in and attempted to steal alcohol.

After asking one of them to put a case of Foster’s lager back on the shelf, a 17-year-old brandished a knife, leant over the counter and attempted to slash Mr Mehta.

The 27-year-old said: “He removed the knife and he started to scare me. He didn’t push the knife into my stomach, but if he’d done it, what would happen?

“My life was in danger only for one case of beer.”

“If one underage guy is showing you a knife, it means you’re not safe" - Rohit Singh Mehta

The robbery happened on September 15 last year.

Mr Mehta said it was not the first time he had encountered the teenager, having refused to serve him alcohol and cigarettes on a number of previous occasions.

He revealed he had also being robbed before, having been stabbed in Birmingham, West Midlands, in 2011.

Mr Mehta is now more cautious about customers, stating: “If one underage guy is showing you a knife, it means you’re not safe – anyone can come and shoot you.”

The teenager, coincidentally from Birmingham, was locked up for 18 months after admitting robbery when shown CCTV footage.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.

His previous convictions for assault, criminal damage and cocaine possession were revealed in court. His teenage accomplice, who ran off, was cautioned for theft.

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