An Essex councillor has denounced the “scumbag” who targeted his shop in a day light robbery and has called for harsher punishments against criminals.

Carlo Guglielmi had to cut a trip in Italy short after a man entered Honeycroft Post Office inn Waldegrave Way, Lawford, at around 12.30pm on Thursday and assaulted a worker before making off with a four figure sum of cash from the till.

Tendring district councillor Mr Guglielm, who runs the business, said: “After the 35 years trading this is the first time anyone has tried to pull a stunt like that.

“This is not a high crime rate area.

“My customers are just as much in shock as my team of staff.

“It was in the middle of the day when you wouldn’t expect anyone to come in and do something like that.”

The male culprit is said to have forced his way behind the counter, pushed a member of staff and grabbed cash from the till before running away towards Long Road.

Mr Guglielmi said the two women who were working when the incident happened were in a “dreadful state of shock”, and he praised them for not attempting to perform “unnecessary heroics” by standing in the robber’s way.

“My priority will be to ensure they get back to normal life and not let a scumbag like that stop them,” he added. “These girls have worked for us for years and years and I will give them as much support as possible.”

The councillor said not enough was done to deter people from committing crime, as robberies like the one inflicted on his shop “happen all too often”.

“We have become too tolerant in our society,” he said.

“A lot of things are not done or said because of the political backlash. It’s not politically correct.

“We don’t do enough. A punishment is something you use to make people think twice before they do something again, going to prison is not the answer.

“I want to go back to the old workhouses. In days gone by people used to think twice before they committed a crime.”

Essex Police is appealing for anyone with information about the robbery of Honeycroft Post Office to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The suspect is described as white, aged in his mid-20s, about 5ft 5ins and slim. He was clean shaven and wore a light grey woollen hooded top with the hood up and drawn tightly around his face.