Shopkeeper throws chilli at armed robber sending him fleeing with nothing but very sore eyes

The thief, who threatened the shop worker with a knife, targeted A1 Convenience store in Kingstanding, Birmingham, shortly before 10.30pm on Saturday night.

CCTV shows the offender, dressed head-to-toe in black with a balaclava across his face, brandishing a large blade as he demands cash from the manager. But the shopkeeper can be seen reaching beneath the counter before lobbing a handful of chilli powder in his face.

 The stunned man stumbles back as he is engulfed in an orange cloud of the chilli powder and dashes from the store in a panic.

The store owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, has released the footage in a bid to highlight the crime but has not reported the matter to police. As a result, West Midlands Police have declined to comment on the incident.