Police have released CCTV showing an 86-year-old woman being stabbed with a screwdriver during an horrific shop robbery in north London.
The elderly victim, who was briefly looking after the store for her son, was jabbed in the hand by the attacker and taken to hospital for her injuries. She was discharged shortly afterwards.
Police said the off licence on Friern Barnet Road in Barnet was targeted just before 6pm on February 14.
According to Scotland Yard the suspect walked into the shop while the elderly woman's son was nearby picking up a take-away, and selected a can of drink before heading towards the counter as if to pay.
As the stand-in shopkeeper opened the till to give him his change, footage shows the violent attacker lurching over the counter to grab the cash register.
The shocked woman can be seen clinging on to it as she screams at the man to stop - before he stabs a screwdriver into her left hand forcing her to let go.
As he flees, the visibly distressed woman, whose face has been blurred to protect her identity, holds her injured hand to her chest.
The robber - described as a 6ft tall black male of medium build, who was wearing dark clothing and a dark hat - made off with approximately £250 in notes and coins, police said.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting image 171436.
