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Teenager helps stop robbery at Co-op in Faversham Road, Kennington

A brave teenager has been hailed a hero after he faced off with a hammer-wielding robber outside a convenience store.

Brandon Hook, 16, gave chase when two men - one with a basket full of unpaid goods - fled from the Co-op in Kennington, Ashford.

The youngster stepped in when one of the pair started to threaten a member of staff with a hammer.

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Brandon Hook outside the store where the attempted robbery took place
Brandon Hook outside the store where the attempted robbery took place

Brandon, who is training to join the military and lives in Kennington, refused to back down and the would-be robber ran away empty-handed.

“I want to be in the military when I am older, so I can’t be scared of going against a guy with a hammer stealing something from a shop," he said.

“My instinct was to go and help because it’s my nearby shop and I know people who work there.

“I got in the way between the man and the worker he was trying to hit and told him to go away.”

Brandon says the military course he is studying gave him the confidence to act.

The attempted robbery happened at about 9pm last Tuesday.

"I want to be in the military when I am older, so I can't be scared of going against a guy with a hammer stealing something from a shop"- Brandon Hook

Brandon, who had ridden his bike to the store to buy an energy drink and sausage rolls, spotted one of the pair acting suspiciously when he was in the shop.

He was about to ride his bike home when the altercation happened at a bus stop by the Co-op entrance.

Brandon added: “I went to the bus stop where they were and one of the staff was on the phone to the police and the other was struggling to get the basket off one of the men.

“He then got a hammer out and started threatening a member of staff.”

VIDEO: Teenager Brandon Hook speaks about Co-op drama

Staff at the Co-op praised the teenager - who has recently moved to Kennington from Gravesend - and rewarded him with a box of chocolates.

A police spokesman said: “We are investigating a report of shoplifting on Faversham Road, Kennington at about 9pm on Tuesday, October 2.

“Inquiries into the circumstances of this incident remain ongoing.”

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