A grandmother has told how she was "petrified" when a hooded teenage robber demanded cash and cigarettes from her.

Wendy Clements-Cole thought the thief, who came into Broomies News, in St Osyth Road, Clacton, had a gun when he struck just before 1.30pm yesterday.

Now Wendy is taking her dog Bruno into work as protection

Although she realised later he was probably not armed, he had already got away with £200 in cash and £250 worth of cigarettes from the newsagents.

Now Mrs Clements-Cole, 54, a mother-of-five and grandmother to four, is taking her dog Bruno in to work for protection.

The robber went into the shop where she was working alone and demanded the money.

He was wearing a balaclava to hide his face.

She said: "When he took the bag out of his pocket I thought it was a gun. He told me not to perform any heroics.

"He knew what he was doing because he pressed the right button to open the till and put the money in the carrier bag. Then he told me to lay on the floor.

"I was petrified. I was just hoping a customer would come in, but they didn't."

The robber also helped himself to the cigarettes and asked for her help, which she refused.

Witnesses then saw him make his getaway on foot down Warwick Road and then Key Road.

Published Thursday, June 12, 2003

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