Shopkeeper fights off knife-wielding burglar with nothing but a wine bottle

Raid footage from a convenience store in Blackburn, Lancashire shows a shopkeeper fighting off an attempted robber with only a wine bottle for protection.

Defendant Clifford Sculpher has been jailed following an attempt to rob a shopkeeper at gunpoint on 3 January, according to LancashireLive.

Footage of the event, which took place in the Wine Cellar convenience store in Blackburn, shows the victim take hold of a wine bottle in an attempt to defend himself against the attack.

The victim, a man in his 30s, can be seen struggling with the attempted burglar while being lunged at several times with a large kitchen knife. Despite demanding money from the victim, the robber left the store empty-handed.

In the hours following the event police were called about a man who appeared to be in an agitated state, and Sculpher was taken to the A and E department of a local hospital.

Police were called hours later with complaints that Sculpher refused to leave after being asked to, and he further assaulted an officer and later spat at a custody officer. On 6 January he further assaulted a member of hospital staff and threw a table at them, according to LancashireLive’s reporting.

Sculpher, 32, was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery a few days after the event.

He plead guilty in Preston Crown Court to attempted robbery, two assaults on an emergency worker and assaulting a health worker.

DS Steve Munro, of Blackburn CID, said: “Sculpher’s behaviour towards a businessman trying to serve his local community was both cowardly and despicable.

“I would like to praise the victim who showed courage and bravery in what was clearly a distressing ordeal for him. However, I would always encourage people not to challenge offenders with weapons but always to call the police for assistance when it is safe to do so.”

Read db’s recent reporting on how a Texas man won $5.5 million in a lawsuit claiming a restaurant over served him alcohol here.