Two men have been found guilty of carrying out an armed robbery at a Ramsgate convenience store, which resulted in the owner of the store being shot and injured.

The incident took place in February when a man armed with a BB gun and taser entered the International Foods store on Ramsgate High Street.

While trying to stop the offender, store owner Ibrahim Ahmedi was shot in the neck and spent three days in hospital. He gave evidence at the trial last week which was held at Canterbury Crown Court in Kent.

The two offenders, Ryan Lee Diggens, 24, of Trove Court, Ramsgate, and Aleksandr Saprykin, 40, of Chapel Place, were convicted of attempted robbery but acquitted of three firearm offences. Both men denied the charges and will now likely face prison sentences.

Speaking at the trial, Ibrahim told the jury that he recognised the gunman when he entered the store at 1.30pm on February 7, accompanied by another man and woman.

One man allegedly shouted “give me your bag of money” and, when Ibrahim refused, the man is said to have started shooting at him. Ibrahim said the weapon was fired “five or six times”.

The prosecutor for the case, Peter Forbes, told the court that the weapon firing silver ball bearings was discovered by Police at the scene of the crime.

The defence barrister Phil Rowley claimed Diggens and Saprykin were trying to sell the gun to the store but Judge Catherine Brown ruled in Ibrahim’s favour.

The two men now await sentencing while they are assessed by probation services. International Foods has asked not to be contacted by the media.