ONE of the robbers responsible for the recent wave of raids in and around York is behind bars awaiting sentence.

Lee Stewart Bainbridge, 25, held up shop assistant Rhoda Green at knifepoint in the Costcutters Strensall branch on July 5. He got away with £200 in cash.

Only two months ago, York magistrates let him keep his freedom after he stole a bicycle. He was already on a community order for other offences.

Bainbridge, of Walmgate, York, has been behind bars following his arrest only a few hours after the Costcutters raid.

He pleaded guilty to the robbery when he appeared at York Crown Court.

Judge Tom Cracknell told him: "It will almost inevitably be custody," and remanded him to prison for probation officers to prepare a report. He will be sentenced on August 10.

On May 12, Bainbridge walked into the car park at The Press headquarters in Walmgate and grabbed a bicycle belonging to journalist Maxine Gordon. It was attached to railings at the time.

But his crime was caught on CCTV and his picture was publicised.

Bainbridge walked into Fulford Road Police Station and confessed his crime. He was not named as a suspect at the time.

He told police he wanted to return it to its rightful owner. Ms Gordon had owned the £250 bicycle for ten years.

Later that month, York magistrates gave him a six-month community order for the bicycle theft and told him to pay £35 in costs. The order included supervision to help him stop committing crimes.

He was already on a six-month community order for different crimes.

But on July 5, he walked into the Costcutters store on Barley Rise, Strensall, with a knife and robbed Ms Green of £200 in cash.