A knifepoint robbery has left a Forest of Dean convenience retailer suffering panic attacks when working alone – as the offender was jailed for five years.
In a powerful Victim Personal Statement read to Gloucester Crown Court, the shopkeeper – who has not been named by police – described the lasting psychological impact after being threatened by a masked man armed with a “large” knife.
“When I am in the shop on my own, I suffer quite badly from panic attacks,” the victim told the court. “I can’t have my back to the door in the shop, it makes me feel uneasy. When someone comes into the shop and I don’t know who they are, I get on edge and I don’t like being in this situation.”
The incident happened at a convenience store near Lydney on Sunday 26 October 2025. Gloucestershire Constabulary said the robber entered wearing a balaclava, armed with a large knife, and demanded money from the till.
CCTV footage showed him lunging towards the shopkeeper, who used his walking stick in an attempt to fight him off. Although the offender repeatedly demanded cash, no money was handed over. However, he stole two bottles of spirits as he left the shop.
The victim described the terrifying moment in stark terms.
“For the first three nights after the incident, I didn’t sleep at all; every time I closed my eyes I had flashbacks,” he said. “I was having nightmares for about two weeks after the incident. I see the incident on replay in my nightmares – the knife stands out the most as it was large and it came so close to stabbing me.
“I truly thought I was going to die that day. When I first saw the knife, I saw images of me being stabbed with it. I had no choice but to fight him off; it was really difficult and I fought him with everything I had. I feel that I am lucky to be alive.”
Police said they were able to identify the offender as 27-year-old Eksteen De Villiers, of no fixed address, after reviewing the CCTV and seeing him with the balaclava removed prior to entering the store. He was arrested and officers seized the knife and the two bottles of alcohol. Clothing matching what was worn during the robbery was also found nearby in a wooded area by a police dog handler.
De Villiers pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to robbery and possession of a bladed item in a public place. He was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on 9 December to five years in prison and was also given a 10-year restraining order preventing him from entering the area.
Speaking after sentencing, Sergeant Nick Wheeler, from the Neighbourhood Policing team in the Forest of Dean, said: “This was a nasty robbery that has left both the victim and those living in this community feeling incredibly vulnerable.
“De Villiers acted in a vicious and frightening manner. This sentence reflects the seriousness with which this attack has been taken by us and the court. We will not tolerate the behaviour of anyone who feels they can subject our communities to this level of fear and intimidation.”
He added: “I hope that De Villiers will use this time to reflect on his life choices, while it gives respite to those who have endured his actions.”