Sweet shop owner 'gutted' after break-in

A sweet shop owner in Nottinghamshire said he had been left "absolutely gutted" after thieves smashed their way into his store and stole about £1,000 of sweets and stuffed animals.

Aniseed Rock, in Central Avenue, Worksop, was forced to close on Monday after intruders shattered one of its front windows during an overnight break-in.

Owner John Jewitt, who runs the business with his wife Marina, said it was the fifth time in eight years the shop had been targeted.

Nottinghamshire Police said it was investigating the burglary alongside several other break-ins reported in the area between Sunday 15 and Monday 16 February.

Jewitt said: "We are all proud we have a nice shop and for people to come and think they can steal... I am absolutely gutted."

The 75-year-old said he had considered installing shutters to avoid a repeat incident, but that the cost would "not be justifiable".

"We would be looking at over £5,000 and that is without fitting," he added.

Jewitt said his family had been "through the mill" in recent months, after he suffered a major heart attack and a bereavement.

But he said customers had been "fantastic" in supporting them.

He added: "It could have been the nail in the coffin for us to close if we were not the type of people that we are.

"We are not going to be forced out and we are not going to close."

A fundraiser has been launched to help the shop pay for an internal shutter. Just under £800 has been raised so far.

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