A TEMPLE Cowley shopkeeper who was beaten up in his store just months after being threatened with a knife in considering leaving the trade.

Suresh Kumar, of The Kumars at No.39 newsagent in Crescent Road, was knocked to the ground, punched and stamped on by a pair of would-be shoplifters on May 1.

Coupled with an attack by vandals and attempted robbery at knifepoint in December, Mr Kumar said he and his wife were at the end of their tether and could sell the business.

The most recent assault took place at about 6pm on May Day after a man and a woman in their 30s or 40s entered the shop to buy a few cans of Stella.

Mr Kumar said: "They tried to steal some sharing bags of sweets and cashew nuts; it was only a petty theft but I was watching on the camera.

"I asked the man to take it out of his pocket and he pretended he was going to pay, then started to swear and verbally abuse me inside the shop."

The pair then retreated outside but began picking at signs and National Lottery posters on the outside of the shop, trying to pull them from the window.

Mr Kumar said: "I went to stop it and they started to throw punches. I slipped and fell on the road and they started to stamp on my face.

"I was a little bruised and when I fell down I scratched my knees and was bleeding. I ran back and fell into the onto the road then ran into the shop.

"I was so shaken I didn't call the police for some time – for a good half hour I couldn't do anything."

Although the bruises have now healed, Mr Kumar said he and his wife were now considering leaving the trade for good.

He said: "It's just one thing after the other. When you work on your own it's not fair. If I can sell it for a good price I will leave; I've lost the passion for this kind of business.

"Lately there have been a lot of weird people hanging around. There are a few people addicted to heroin and people who have been released on bail, and it's a little bit dangerous at the moment. You have to be careful who you deal with: all the other shopkeepers need to be vigilant."

Yesterday police released CCTV images of a man and a woman officers wish to speak to in connection with the assault.

On December 11 a teenager walked into the shop and threatened Mr Kumar with a blade before leaving empty-handed. He has yet to be caught. Police have also spoken to three of five teenagers that vandalised the till area in November.

Investigating officer PC Rebecca Nightingale, based at Cowley police station, said: "We are appealing for the people in these CCTV images to come forward as they may have information vital to our investigation into this incident. If you are one of these people, recognise them, or have any information about the incident, please call 101."

Police were unable to explain yesterday why CCTV stills were only made public 30 days after the incident took place.