A BRAVE shopkeeper tried to fend off raiders armed with a baseball bat and a machete using a plastic bread basket, a court was told.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that 20-year-old Thomas Marshall, who was armed with a baseball bat, and two other men, one of whom had a large machete, burst into Mohammed Zahid’s Kirkintilloch store demanding money.

The man with the machete shouted: “Give me the till,” and Mr Zahid refused stating: “Why should I give you the till.”

Mr Zahid tried to prevent the till being grabbed, but was overpowered and the till was thrown to the ground and broke open.

Prosecutor John Scott QC said: “Mr Zahid was immediately attacked by all three accused. The man with the machete attempted to strike Mr Zahid to the head with the machete and was only prevented from doing so because he used the bread basket as a shield.

“The accused Marshall also attempted to hit Mr Zahid with the baseball bat and then hit him on the head with it.”

The third raider was trying to push Mr Zahid back, the court was told.

Marshall ran out the shop with the till, while the man with the machete continue to swing it at Mr Zahid before he and the third man ran off. When police arrived at the shop they found it in disarray with blood on the floor. Mr Zahid had a head injury and told them: “They took my till.”

Marshall admitted, while acting along with others, assaulting Mr Zahid by striking him on the head with a baseball bat and attempting to strike him on the head with a machete and robbing him of approximately £400 at Mauchline Stores, Mauchline Street, Kirkintilloch, on November 21, last year.

Judge Lady Scott deferred sentence on Marshall,until next month for background reports.