IPSWICH: A dim armed robber, caught red-handed by CCTV, has admitted in court carrying out knifepoint raids on two shops in the town.

Clive Malone, of St Helen’s Street, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday, where he pleaded guilty to carrying out the robberies at Emeny News, in the road where he lives at about 7pm on Sunday, October 16, and Uni Shop, around 300 metres away in Grimwade Street at 9pm on the same day.

Malone, originally from Cork, Ireland, also admitted two counts of possession of an offensive weapon at the court hearing.

In both incidents the 24-year-old entered the shops and, brandishing a large knife, threatened staff and demanded money.

The court heard he handed himself into police after seeing CCTV images of the second raid printed in The Evening Star.

At a previous hearing at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court, it emerged the recovering drug addict had an argument with his partner, who he met in rehab, after relapsing and having an alcoholic drink on the night of the robberies.

Malone met some street drinkers, and took cocaine and possibly ketamine before heading into the first shop. He realised he had no money and left, returning some time later with a large knife.

The court heard Malone told one of the shop keepers he was a drug addict while demanding the CCTV footage from the owner of Uni Shop, who handed him a CD of Indian music instead.

Malone woke up at Ipswich docks the following morning with no memory of the incidents, the magistrates’ court heard.

Malone was remanded in custody and will appear for sentencing at the crown court in the week commencing November 21.

In the days prior to Malone handing himself in, Uni Shop worker Mohamed Hamid told the Star the armed raid had left him “scared for my life”.

He said: “I went behind the counter. Suddenly I saw something fall down on the floor next to me. It was a knife, which was more than 12ins long.

“I quickly moved back and said “don’t hurt me”.

“He said ‘money, money, money. Give me the money – I’m a drug addict, I’m sorry for this. If you shout I will kill you’.”

n Can more be done to help the victims of crime? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or alternatively you can send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@evening star.co.uk