Former soldier admits robbery after hitting shopkeeper on the head with an axe
Footage from BPM Media
A former soldier has admitted to hitting a shopkeeper on the head with an axe and trying to rob another victim at a second store.
Neil Gordon, 41, pleaded guilty to robbing Ann Sage of cash from the till, at the Craven Street Stores, in Melton, Leicestershire.
Mrs Sage, who runs the shop with her husband, Richard, was taken to hospital suffering from a gash to her head.
Despite her injuries, she chased after him but he escaped in a blue car. he was later arrested.
The couple have released CCTV footage of the incident, which happened on 1 March 2017.
Gordon also pleaded guilty to attempting to rob a female employee at the One Stop shop in Grange Drive, earlier on the same day. He pleaded guilty to possessing an axe during both incidents.
He initially denied the offences, but changed his plea shortly before he was due to stand trial before a jury.
Other outstanding allegations, including another shop raid in the town and an attempted robbery and three assaults were ordered to lie on file and are not being proceeded with.
The judge adjourned the hearing until 6 September to prepare a pre-sentence report. Gordon was remanded back into custody.