Beaten with a pool cue (From Free Press Series)

Beaten with a pool cue

A MASKED robber attacked the owner of a corner shop with a pool cue in a horrifying raid that shocked the local community.

The owner of J and JA Grocers in Trevethin needed stitches after he fended off the masked man who was trying to grab the till.

Jeff Gulliford, was beaten with a pool cue when he refused to hand over money to the armed raider.

Mr Gulliford, pictured, needed stitches to his face after the assault, which happened at around 7pm on Monday night at the Glen View Road corner shop he runs with wife Janet.

"Me and my wife were in the shop and this bloke came in wearing a mask and gloves and said 'give me the money.'

"We thought he must have been joking at first then he said 'give me the f***ing money," said Mr Gulliford.

Shocked by the attack, which is the first he has experienced in 12 years of running the shop, Mr Gulliford struggled with the man as his terrified wife Janet watched on.

Angered, Mr Gulliford jumped over the counter.

He said: "I jumped over the counter and he swung at me. He hit me in the face with the pool cue.

"I am a bit achy today because I tried to block the cue with my arm and he hit me with it.

"He struck my arm and my face. I chased the boy across the field opposite but he managed to get away. My wife was terrified but I was more angry than anything."

Mr Gulliford's daughter called police and an ambulance then arrived to take him to The Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport for treatment.

Local people have said they saw a man asking for directions to the shop before the incident.

Witnesses have said they saw a Black man with a goatee beard outside the shop before the attack.

The masked man is around five feet six inches tall and of average build, according to Mr Gulliford he probably weighs around 11 stone.

Trevethin Councillor Lewis Jones said: "Most people have been shocked by the attack because it's unusual for this kind of thing to happen up here. "The police will catch the man as soon as possible, I know they were up here within minutes of the attack happening. But I would urge anyone who knows anything to contact the police."

Any witnesses can call DS Emma Brown of Pontypool Police on 01495 232343.