Shopkeeper returns to work months after horrific axe attack

A village shopkeeper is back at work months after he was struck with an axe during a robbery – an incident that prompted an outpouring of local solidarity. 

Harpal Singh, the owner of the Londis convenience store in Chesham Bois, was seriously injured during a raid on the shop on February 22nd this year.

Mr Singh, 45, was working the evening shift when a gang of robbers burst into the shop.

The thieves made off with cash, cigarettes and vapes but not before one of them, armed with an axe, set upon Mr Singh.

The shopkeeper was hospitalised with serious injuries, shocking the Chesham Bois community.

In the aftermath of the attack, the village rallied around Mr Singh with hundreds of people donated to a JustGiving page set up to support the victim and his family.

By the time the page stopped taking donations in March, it had raised over £7,000.

In a statement shortly after the robbery, Londis manager Markus Green said: “The incident last week has had a profound impact on Harpal and our family.

We are comforted and humbled by the support and well-wishes received from the community and we thank you all for your support. We only ask that you keep Harpal in your thoughts and prayers and please be patient and support all our staff in the shop at this difficult time.”

Two adults and a teenager were arrested and charged with robbery over the incident, and are due to stand trial at a later date.

Mr Singh left hospital soon after the attack in February – but he has only been able to return to work in the past few weeks.

He said the incident has taken a physical and mental toll on him: “I’m not feeling very well, and I’m always upset.”

Due directly to his injuries, Mr Singh lost his sense of taste and smell, and also suffers from tinnitus.

He said he is seeking treatment for depression, and is wary about being in charge of an empty shop at night.

Nevertheless, he told the Bucks Free Press that he is now able to work at the store “three or four days a week.”

The community fundraising effort covered the wages of shop staff, and also assisted with bills during Mr Singh’s absence.

He expresses his gratitude to everyone who donated, stating: “I keep telling every individual person: thanks so much for supporting.”