A drug user who robbed a 71-year-old Ipswich woman of £20 cash and her mobile phone at her home will be sentenced next month.

Jorge Carrosco had previously done gardening work for the victim at her home in Ashcroft Road and went there on July 2 and demanded money, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Carrosco, 41, of Clarkson Street, Ipswich, admitted robbery.

Adjourning sentence until the week commencing December 4 for a pre-sentence report, Judge David Goodin told Carrosco the offence he had admitted was serious and normally a prison sentence would follow.

However, he said as he had no previous offences and because no physical injury was caused to the victim it might be possible for the court to pass a suspended prison sentence rather than send him straight to prison.

David Wilson, prosecuting, said the victim was upset at the loss of her mobile phone as it contained pictures of her dogs and a number of contact details.

Roger Thomson, for Carrosco, said he had a drug problem which he was now addressing.