A ROBBER armed with a screwdriver stole a bicycle from a store before selling it on to buy drugs.

Alan Clough walked into the Go Outdoors store in Pitsea and began searching for a bicycle that wasn’t fixed to the wall.

A member of staff saw him and became suspicious, approaching Clough as he removed a bike, worth £499, and when he tried to stop him, Clough whipped out a screwdriver and threatened him.

He then left the store and later sold the bike on for around £80 so he could buy drugs.

The 28-year-old appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday via video link where he admitted robbery and possessing an offensive weapon.

Clough was already serving a prison sentence for another count of robbery, which he was sentenced for in February this year.

On that occasion, he assaulted someone before stealing their mobile phone.

He remained impassive throughout the hearing speaking only to confirm his name.

The court heard that following his previous sentence Clough was told to “clean up his offences” by police, resulting in him admitting the robbery from Go Outdoors.

Mitigating for Clough, Ian Lancaster told Judge John Lodge that he was trying to improve himself in prison and was in full time education, studying maths and graphic design.

Sentencing Clough, Judge Lodge said: “You come before me now having admitted two robberies which occurred close together. You were told by police at your last sentencing to clean up your offences.

“Had I known of this other offence at the time of sentencing earlier this year, you would have been given a longer sentence in custody. You have already served some time in prison and I must take that into consideration.” Clough, of no fixed address, was sentenced to three years and eight months for robbery and 12 months for the possession of a screwdriver, to run concurrently.