An 81-year-old shop-owner has been praised by a judge for standing up to a masked robber.

Mary Reed, who owns Reed's newsagents in Burdell Avenue, Sandhills, Oxford, grabbed a mask worn by Ashley Rees and pulled it off as he tried to rob the shop on January 1 this year.

Rees, who was accompanied by an unknown accomplice who took some cigarettes, then shoved her to the floor.

Sentencing Rees to three years' detention at a young offenders' institution, Judge Anthony King told him on Monday: "Mrs Mary Reed kept her corner shop for 50 years.

"You two decided to rob it on New Year's Day and went in wearing face masks.

"What surprised you was that she had the courage to face you, and you gave her a violent push before robbing her."

Rees, 19, of Deer Walk, Greater Leys, admitted robbery.

The court heard he felt genuine remorse for what he had done.

Mrs Reed declined to comment.