Young shop assistant left badly shaken up by robbers' assault

A YOUNG shop assistant was left "shaken up" after being grabbed by the throat by two men during a robbery.

Officers are appealing for information following the incident at Quay News in Oreston, on Tuesday evening.

Two men entered the shop at around 7.20pm and threatened the 19-year-old male assistant who was serving in the shop at the time.

The men grabbed him by the throat and demanded cash from the till, a bottle of vodka, and his mobile phone, the police said.

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Both men then left the shop and ran off in the direction of Orchard Crescent, Oreston.

Detective Constable Kevin Lawson, who is investigating the robbery, said: "We are still making enquiries, carrying out a search of the area and speaking to potential witnesses.

"The shop assistant was very shaken up. This is an unusual occurrence. Nothing like this has ever happened in that area of Plymstock before and we want to reassure the public that we are doing everything we can. This is not something that is likely to happen again in the area."

The first suspect is described as being a white male aged in his mid-to-late-20s, 6ft 1in to 6ft 2in tall, slim build with olive skin and dark eyebrows. He was wearing a black hooded top, that was pulled up at the time, which had white draw strings tied around the neck, dark tracksuit bottoms and dark gloves.

The second man was also white, aged in his mid-to-late 20s, approximately 5ft 10in to 5ft 11in tall, of a large build and wearing a black hooded top, which was also up at the time, with dark trousers and brown tights over his head covering his face.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said the incident had been particularly "traumatic" for the shop assistant.

Officers believe both men may have been in the area for some time before the robbery, possibly observing the shop, and may have even entered the shop before the incident.

Detectives are urgently appealing for anyone in the area of the Quay, Oreston, between 7pm and 8pm on Tuesday, or in the days previously who saw anyone acting suspiciously, to contact them on 101 quoting police reference EK/12/729 or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.