Moment quick-witted shopkeeper slams shutters on knife-wielding intruder

This is the moment an armed robber was foiled by a quick-witted shopkeeper who trapped him under shutters to hold him hostage until the police arrived.

Malcolm Trimble, 30, was captured in comical CCTV footage getting stuck underneath the metal shutters after targeting an off-licence in Durham city.

He was jailed yesterday for three years and four months after admitting attempted robbery and possession of a knife 

Trimble had walked into the shop on May 12 carrying a large kitchen knife concealed in his sleeve before picking up a four-pack of lager and threatening the shopkeeper.

But the brave worker fled from the premises and held the door closed, trapping Trimble inside as he fought against the door. 

This is the moment an armed robber was foiled by a quick-witted shopkeeper who trapped him under shutters to hold him hostage until the police arrived

He then calmly activated the security system to lower the shop’s roller shutters.

Realising he was about to be trapped, Trimble then attempted an Indiana Jones-style slide to avoid the descending shutters.

But he mistimed his slide and, just before he could break free, he ended up pinned to the floor – with his head inside the shop and his torso in the street.

He was unable to move as his head was pressed against the glass door while the weight of the shutters tied him to the ground.  

While the shopkeeper called 999, Trimble conceded he had been caught and cracked open a can of beer to drink while police made their way to the scene.

Officers arrived within three minutes of the 999 call to find the suspect lying in the street with his head inside the shop.

They released the shutters and promptly arrested him.

At Durham Crown Court yesterday Trimble was jailed for three years and four months after admitting attempted robbery and possession of a knife.

Detective Sergeant Paul Mawson, of Durham Constabulary, joked: ‘It wasn’t the most difficult arrest we have ever made.

‘To be honest, it was an open and shut case.’

Trimble had walked into the shop on May 12 carrying a large kitchen knife concealed in his sleeve before picking up a four-pack of lager and threatening the shopkeeper

However the quick-witted shopkeeper fled the store, trapping him inside, before beginning to roll down the shutters

Trimble attempted an Indiana Jones-style slide beneath the shutters to escape the shop

However, the CCTV captured the comical moment he mistimed his slide, meaning he was trapped beneath the shutters until the police arrived 

Officers arrived within three minutes of the 999 call to find the suspect lying in the street with his head inside the shop. They released the shutters and promptly arrested him