A SHOP owner has put up a £1,000 reward in a bid to catch two would-be robbers - one of whom was given a "good beating" during a foiled raid.
Ash Mistry was expecting the attack on his CNA news and off licence store in Minster Road, Stourport, after spotting the two men acting suspiciously three or four days before they struck at 10.10pm on Sunday.
And when it came his 21-year-old son Chetash, who was taken to hospital with a suspected skull fracture, managed to give as good as he got to one of the robbers, knocking him to the floor and hitting him five or six times in the face.
The stick-wielding raiders staged their attack as Ash was locking up but fled empty handed after the father and son fought back.
They were both then treated at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital where fears over Chetash's head injury fortunately proved unfounded. Chetash and Ash Mistry fended off two would be robbers at their Stourport shop.
Ash said: "I saw them checking us out three or four days before, so we were expecting them.
"We were prepared - I got my son to come at closing time so I wouldn't be on my own when I was locking up."
Chetash managed to knock one of the attackers to the ground during the incident, despite being beaten repeatedly across the head with a stick as he attempted to go to the aid of his father.
Ash added: "We got hurt but we gave them a good fight. My son had one of them on the floor.
"He had a good beating from Chetash, who hit him in the face five or six times.
"I pushed the other one over the neighbours' fence and he took me down with him. When the neighbours came out we shouted to them to call the police."
Chetash tried to chase the men but lost them as they made off down an alley, towards Stourport town centre.
One of the men was white, aged between 20 and 30, of stocky build and wearing a dark-coloured woollen hat.
The other was white, around 5ft 8in tall, of slim to medium build and wearing a black top.
Two men who had been arrested in connection with the incident were released by police without charge.
Ash said he had offered the cash reward to help prevent someone else being attacked and hoped it would be enough for the robbers' mates to shop them.
"We gave them a good fight. They will be bruised and will probably be a laughing stock among their friends."
Up to £1,000 is on offer for information leading to the conviction of the robbers.
Anyone with information should call Kidderminster Police on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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