For most shoppers who have popped to their corner shop for a chocolate treat or some last-minute ingredients for dinner, the appearance of an armed robber would be the stuff of nightmares.
But that was not the case for Mairi Kerin, who is a fifth dan karate black belt – as a gun-toting villain was about to find out.
As the 42-year-old medal-winning Wadokai karate enthusiast, who is also proficient in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing, bought some chocolates a masked man came in and began threatening staff at LOCO Convenience Store in Telford, Shropshire.
Without missing a beat, Mairi lept into action by grabbing the would-be thief’s arm and delivered a couple of firm kicks to his shins.
Dramatic CCTV captured martial arts expert Mairi chasing the criminal from the shop before he ran away down the street.
Her intervention helped to bring an end to a spree of 15 known similar offences by the same gang over a period of only a couple of weeks and saw the offenders charged with a total of 45 offences and prison sentences totalling 18 years.
Now, after being given a Police Chief Superintendent Commendation Award by West Mercia Police following her brave heroics on March 3, 2023, Mairi has described in detail her experience.
She has also shed light on the shocking discovery that the offender had a firearm in his pocket during the attack.
This is the stunning moment an armed robber came away with more than he bargained for – after a customer in high heels kicked him out the store with her karate black belt moves
Mairi says she was pleased to help bring the criminals to justice: ‘The time was right and I’m glad I was there’
Mairi was given a Police Chief Superintendent Commendation Award by West Mercia Police following her brave heroics on March 3, 2023
Mairi, from Rugeley, Staffordshire, said: ‘The incident happened almost 2 years ago. I’d unexpectedly, due to work commitments, ended up in the town where my sister’s family live just before the schools were about to come out, around 3pm.
‘I thought it would be nice to surprise my nieces so popped into their local to buy them some chocolates. It was all over in 15 seconds. I had picked what I wanted for the kids and heard the shopkeeper quiz whoever had just walked in. “Why did you put the board against the door?.”
‘As calm as anything the voice behind me said what I thought was “because I am going to take your money…”
‘Unsure of this, but also acutely aware something was not quite right, I put my phone and keys away into my jacket pockets to free up my hands and listened more intently.
‘In that second, I had so many things go through my mind but strangely it was all about the inconvenience of the situation. I even had time to joke with myself about it not being my best day.
‘At no point did I consider what I was going to do about it. I had so much time, it was as if everything slowed down.
‘As the shopkeeper stumbled over his words, the voice moved to my side which gave me tim to check him out.
‘I knew instantly that he was carrying more than one weapon. As he answered back to the shopkeeper, again without shouting or swearing… he stepped forward lifting the bag and fumbled trying to get out, whatever it was in his left pants pocket.
The criminal can be seen standing close to Mairi Kerin, 42, just moments before he began threatening the shop keeper
Mairi calmly walked back to the counter after kicking the man out of the store in front of the stunned shopkeeper
Mairi, pictured, a black belt karate woman who stopped convenience store robber in his tracks
‘We would later find out a knife and a firearm were involved but whatever was in the left pocket, for that moment it was not coming out.
‘I did not know or have time to think about what I was going to do, but I was ready to take the opportunity should it present itself. When I saw his left hand still in his pocket I took the chance.
‘I grabbed his wrist closest to me and once I had hold, I knew I was in control. As I let the kick go, I started to doubt whether I had read the situation correctly.
‘I consciously slowed the kick down, but thankfully it was enough to make him run. I caught both his shins and had two bruises to show for it, but my new heels that I was breaking in for the new job, meant I couldn’t run after him, which, in hindsight, was probably a good thing.
‘As for the John Wayne styled walk back to the counter, well many of you will have seen that before… I remember thinking that it all happened so quietly unlike in the movies.
‘When I got back to the counter the shopkeeper was still stunned and frozen to the spot. He would call his family before I suggested he should probably call the police.
He did have a panic button but did not think to use it. I was still very relaxed at this point but as I left without having paid for the chocolate (gifted not robbed) I felt the need to take a drive away from my sister’s place and make sure no one was following me as if, for a moment, I was in Gangs of London.
‘I would return to the shop about 20 minutes later. The Police had arrived and wanted me to attend the station where I told them my version of events.
Jake Jones, 21, was jailed alongside Jordan Hickman, 29, and an 18-year-old, who could not be named for legal reasons, for a combined total of 18 years
Instant karma: Mairi is a medal-winning Wadokai karate enthusiast, who is also proficient in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing
Mairi insists she was not brave but merely acting on her martial arts and self-defence training
‘Shortly after my nieces got the Disney-ized version of the event with chocolates much to the shock of my sister and brother-in-law.
‘For the three days that followed I was still riding the adrenalin. I was allocated a witness care officer who was in contact regularly and following a delayed trial, three men were found guilty and sentenced to 18 years for armed robbery in June.
‘I am grateful that no-one was hurt and genuinely feel for the victims of crime. The time taken between the incident and the sentencing meant a lot of headspace was taken up with reliving the events, imagining alternatives, and trying to keep track of the case online. I cannot imagine how real victims must feel.
‘Also, people have asked whether I was scared. No, I was not. I’ve imagining taking the legs of far more people than I will ever need to and have trained with this type of event in mind for over 20 years.
‘I have sparred in full-contact sessions with people far heavier than me and have been through the mill many times. Significant bruising, grazing, dislocations, broken bones, and knockouts have all happened along the way.
‘As a result, I am confident in my skills and would generally back myself in situations like these against someone of that size. In my opinion this is not stupidity or bravado… it’s a reflection of self-belief.’
