A Ramsgate shopkeeper was shot in the neck as he fought off two would-be robbers armed with guns and a taser, a jury heard today.

Ibrahim Ahmedi was in the International Foods convenience store in the High Street when he was confronted by the men demanding cash.

But when the shopkeeper refused to hand over any money he was hit by a silver ball bearing as he fought off the attack, a jury at Canterbury Crown Court heard.

Ryan Lee Diggens, 24, of Trove Court, Ramsgate and Aleksandr Saprykin 40, of the town's Chapel Place, both deny charges of attempted robbery and three firearms charges.

Prosecutor Peter Forbes said Mr Ahmedi was later taken to the QEQM and William Harvey Hospitals for treatment "and survived".

He said: “These two defendants attempted to rob Mr Ahmedi who was working alone behind the till at a convenience store on February 7 at 1.30pm

“Each was armed with what appeared to be a gun and Saprykin also had a taser.”

The prosecutor said the shopkeeper attempted to fight them off and was shot in the neck but survived and later identified his alleged assailant.

Mr Forbes claimed the men came into the store and Mr Ahmedi recalled seeing a woman near the door.

Saprykin walked up to the till, pulled out the gun and pointed it at the shopkeeper saying: “Give me the bag with the money”, it was alleged.

Mr Ahmedi refused and told him to leave the store “at which Saprykin fired the gun several times," the prosecutor claimed.

The shopkeeper, not realising he had been hit, grabbed the gunman and the two began struggling, with punches being thrown and Saprykin firing a taser.

The struggle spilled onto the street before the two would-be robbers who later fled when members of the public joined in to help the shopkeeper.

After being stopped and confronted by two of members of the public at which point Diggens is alleged to have put his hands into his pocket, warning them: “I’m going to get the gun out” and they were allowed to leave.

A second gun and silver ball bearings were later recovered by police inside the shop, the court heard.

The trial continues.