Terrifying moment thug wildly swung an AXE at female shop worker while demanding cash in a frenzied robbery as he is jailed for seven years
- Zia Rafiq, 38, threatened staff at the Lifestyle Express store in Walsall in January
- A customer bravely tried to intervene as Rafiq wielded his axe around the shop
- Police identified Rafiq, who claimed he was elsewhere, from the shop’s CCTV
- Staff threw Rafiq a small bag of coins before he escaped from the supermarket
Zia Rafiq threatened members of staff at Lifestyle Express in Birchills, Walsall, West Midlands on January 17
This is the terrifying moment a thug was caught on CCTV threatening staff with an axe during a during a shop robbery.
Zia Rafiq, 38, can be seen in shocking footage wildly swinging the blade in the direction of a female worker after he stormed the Lifestyle Express store in Birchills, Walsall, West Midlands, on January 17.
Rafiq was jailed for seven years as a result of the armed raid where managed to steal a small amount of cash.
One courageous customer who was in the shop at the time can be seen bravely trying to intervene – but Rafiq continued the frenzied attack undettered.
Eventually the staff member passed him a bag of coins before Rafiq fled from the store.
Rafiq, of Alumwell Road, Walsall, was identified from CCTV images by a police officer, but insisted he was elsewhere when the robbery took place.
He eventually pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article and was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court on April 24.
Rafiq waved his axe around to threaten staff at the shop in Walsall, West Midlands