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Claire Tillyer

A YOUNG mother has told how she was bundled into the toilets at gunpoint during a frightening raid on a Hampshire convenience store.

Terrified Claire Tillyer was confronted by an armed robber as she opened the gates at the back of Tesco Express.

Moments later the 29-year-old and her colleague Jan Grant were ordered to hand over more than £1,000 cash from the tills before being forced into the shop toilets.

Claire today described how the man jabbed a gun in her back as he issued chilling instructions.

She said: "It was horrific - just the thought that he could literally have pulled that trigger at any point and I would not be here. My kids would not have a mother, my husband would lose a wife.

Thinking back, it was really, really scary.

"When I first saw him, he said, come with me now'. And with that he put the gun in my back. I shouted for my colleague who came running down and screamed. Then he took us both inside."

The gunman told Claire, a team leader at the Watson Way store to open the safe - even though the device was impossible to unlock due to a security system.

Seconds later he ordered them in to the staff toilets while he searched the shop for money.

After 20 minutes armed police arrived and stormed the building - but the offender had fled.

Claire, who lives with her husband David and four young children in Ringwood Road, Totton, added: "It was a very frightening experience. My problem now is that I don't like being left alone at home when it is dark.

"When night comes, I start to panic that somebody may appear at the bottom of the garden.

"What kind of person does this to two women?

"Hopefully my story will help get this evil person off the street."

Police today released CCTV footage of the drama in the hope that somebody may recognise the robber.

Detective Sergeant Martin Myers said: "This man would have been carrying a large clear polythene sack containing boxes of cigarettes. We know he did not get in a vehicle and walked away from the store.

"I would urge anyone who may have seen a man carrying a large sack or has any information which may assist us in identifying him to contact us."

Anyone with information about the incident, on March 7, should contact police on 0845 0454545.

Tesco has also offered a £2,500 reward for information leading to a conviction.

■ A 31-year-old man from the Totton area has been arrested in connection with the robbery and is on police bail pending further enquiries. He is due to report back at Lyndhurst police station in June.

12:09pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

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