A courageous shop assistant has told of the terrifying moment he stared down the barrel of a gun.

A robber wearing a balaclava had stormed into the One Stop Shop in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, on May 20 demanding cash.

As Keith Moon’s colleague ushered shoppers away to safety to the back of the convenience store, he confronted the menacing teenage thug at the till.

The robber pointed the weapon at Mr Moon and snarled: “Give me all the money.”

Prosecutor Peter Forbes told Maidstone Crown Court that Mr Moon thought it was real.

The robber was told the till was locked and he turned and pointed the weapon at customers and pulled the trigger.

“Mr Moon heard the weapon make a plastic clicking sound and then challenged him: ‘You are going to shoot me with a plastic gun?’

“The robber made no reply and Mr Moon was able to lock the front door,” the prosecutor added.

Mr Moon said: “I have seen robberies on TV but they do not portray the immense impact it had on me.

“As I was staring down the barrel of a gun I had no idea what was going to happen and whether I was going to be shot. I ask myself over and over ‘what if it had been real?’

“Since the incident I have been anxious and struggled to go out. I am constantly on my guard and worry if the suspect is still around.

“I have struggled to sleep and as I lay in bed I am transported back to the moment he first entered the store.”

Mr Moon said his doctor had recommended specialist counselling.

Customer Marie Greenwood said in her impact statement: “While not directly threatened or harmed during this incident, I am very scared and shook up at how different it could have been.”

After failing to get cash, the raider then used the weapon to smash his way out but failed and eventually grabbed a fire extinguisher to break a glass panel and escape.

The 17-year-old – who cannot be named due to his age – was recognised after he was seen hanging around the store before the botched raid.

When arrested the youth told officers others had ‘put him up to it’.

The teenager had been in court for other offences including having drugs only hours earlier.

The teen, who admitted attempted robbery, possessing the fake firearm and causing criminal damage, received a sentence of 18-months.

Judge David Grifith-Jones QC told him: “Your victims were customers simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and shop assistants providing a service to the public.

“It must have been a terrifying incident for them. This was very serious indeed, horrific and traumatic.” He also praised the staff for showing “exemplary bravery”.

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