A SHOPKEEPER involved in a terrifying attempted robbery hopes to look his attacker in the eye as he faces justice.

Jonathan Dunkin, 68, showed The Gazette a draft of his victim impact statement, usually read out at crown court sentencing hearings.

Thug Scott Cotier, who brandished a realistic imitation firearm in Mr Dunkin's face, is due to be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court tomorrow.

He has admitted attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent.

In his draft statement, Mr Dunkin said: "Obviously to turn your head and see the barrel of a gun one inch from your left eye is quite traumatic.

"The incident has disrupted my sleeping rhythm, now i only sleep for a few hours before waking.

"I can fall asleep again, but I have not had a good night's sleep since the robbery."

He added: "When my reflex action knocked the gun away from my face, I quickly assessed that the maximum risk time had already passed.

"My family - my daughter, her husband and my two teenage granddaughters - were all profoundly shocked, upset and worried for the future."

In a direct address to Mr Cotier, Mr Dunkin said: “I assume you will have time to reflect on your action that night.

“Try to imagine sitting with your wife, your mother, or even your daughter in years to come watching the CCTV of that night. Imagine how you would explain to them why you did this.

“Imagine watching CCTV of your mother being robbed at gunpoint, how would that make you feel? Then imagine how my daughter feels watching you hold a gun one inch from my face.

“It is the measure of a person not how they handle success, but how they handle adversity.

“You are by no means the only one to have a problem childhood, the trick is to not let it ruin your adult life.”