Incredible moment farm shop worker clings to shoplifter's bonnet

This is the terrifying moment a suspected shoplifter sped off with a farmshop worker clinging to the bonnet of his car after he tried to stop the man escaping.  

Hero Matthew Henshaw, 20, closed the car park gates and stood in the way of the black Vauxhall Corsa car as the man made a quick getaway. 

But the alleged shoplifter - who is believed to have been trying to steal food from Mainsgill Farmshop in North Yorkshire - put his foot down and drove into Matthew. 

The 20-year-old had no choice but to grab the bonnet of the car as the driver tried to flee onto the A66, one of the major trans-Pennine routes across the north.

Thankfully for Matthew and his family, who run the popular shop, he managed to drop from the car and roll to safety as the suspected shoplifter sped away.

The incident, which took place today, was caught on CCTV and posted on social media by Mainsgill Farmshop who are now trying to identify the driver. 

Their post said: 'This man is a repeating shoplifter!! He has just sped out of Mainsgill with Matthew on and under his bonnett as we tried to shut the gates!

'This needs to stop!!'

As a shaken Matthew recovered from his ordeal, his mother Maria spoke of her fury.

She said: 'This person came in two weeks ago and was spotted stealing from the shop.

'He came in again today and they recognised him as he was acting suspiciously.

'He again started stealing food and then went out into his car to drive off so my son Matthew tried to stop him.

'He ran over and closed the car park gates and stood in front of the car but this person just drove straight into him and drove away with him on the bonnett.

'Thankfully Matthew hasn't been injured but obviously it's left everyone very shaken.

'This man needs to be stopped, it could have been a very different outcome.'

North Yorkshire police have been approached for comment.

The shop in East Layton near Richmond has been hit by a spate of thefts in recent weeks with £388 worth of stock stolen on October 18. 

Farmers Maria and Andrew Henshaw opened the family-run farmshop and tearoom in 2001, diversifying from their traditional farming business.

'I also loved visiting a family business at Mainsgill Farmshop, founded and run by Andrew and Maria Henshaw and their children, Jack and Rachel. A thriving local success story in diversification and creating opportunities for so many young people.'

In summer they were visited by Akshata Murty, wife of former PM Rishi Sunak during the election campaign.

She hailed it as a local success story, saying: 'I loved visiting a family business at Mainsgill Farmshop, founded and run by Andrew and Maria Henshaw and their children. 

'A thriving local success story in diversification and creating opportunities for so many young people.'

Mr Henshaw added: 'We have run our family business since 2001 and it has been a pleasure welcoming Akshata here today, and Rishi previously.

'We really believe in growing and buying local, which is what you get at Mainsgill. It's always a treat to get to show how well our apprentices are doing as well.'