Shopkeeper shares CCTV of moment he was attacked

A shopkeeper says he still feels scared in his own store more than three months after being attacked by a customer.

Navin Sharda, who runs a convenience store in Beverley Road, Hull, was assaulted by customer Paul Todd, who pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Hull Magistrates' Court on 25 October 2024.

Todd was given a community order and is not allowed to enter Mr Sharda's store for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £250 to the victim.

Mr Sharda has shared his story after the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said retail crime was "out of control".

"I cannot open the shop full time because I am scared," he said.

"My timings are [normally] seven until eight but I open at half seven, eight o'clock sometimes because it's too dark outside, I'm so scared.

"And in the night as well I shut down at eight or half eight because I am too scared after that. You can't trust anybody.

"Anyone can attack you anywhere now, there's no safety for you.

"After that violence I went to A&E and when I went back to the house I saw all family members sleeping in one room because they were scared."

According to the BRC, which represents more than 200 major retailers, violence and abuse against shopworkers rose by 50% in the 12 months to September last year, with more than 2,000 such incidents recorded on average per day.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday revealed shoplifting offences reported by police in England and Wales rose by 23% to more than 492,000 over the same period.

That is the highest figure since current recording practices began in 2003.

Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said: "The rising levels of shop theft and violence against retail staff are utterly unacceptable.

"We will not stand for this. That is why this government has made clear we will introduce a new specific offence of assaulting a retail worker and end the effective immunity that currently applies for theft of goods under £200.

"And it is why as part of our Safer Streets Mission we are restoring neighbourhood policing, putting thousands of dedicated officers and community support officers back on our streets, and ensuring every community has a named local officer they can turn to."

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