A CAREER criminal who conned vulnerable people out of money with a mixture of sob stories and bullying behaviour has been jailed for almost three years.

Twice-convicted robber John Robbins was told by a judge that he had blown a chance he was given earlier this year when he imposed a deferred sentence.

Judge Sean Morris told Robbins: "Go away, reflect upon yourself, if you commit crime again when you come out next time there will be a more serious sentence."

The judge added: "I was persuaded in January that you had changed your ways. You have decided that you can't. I took a risk. What a mistake that was.

"I have read your very long letter, a fraction of which refers to your victims, but most of it is a bleat about yourself.

"You are self-centred and criminally-motivated. You a man who clearly cannot stop committing crime.

"These were three nasty, calculated frauds, depriving two men on three occasions of money by lying to them and being intimidating to them."

Teesside Crown Court heard how Robbins targeted his first victim who had been in a crash and his vehicle was damaged.

Over six weeks, he took £700 from him saying he would repair the car, taking it away several times for work - but other than a dent being knocked out, nothing was done.

One morning, he called at the man's flat at 5.30am, knocked him out of bed, and refused to leave for three hours, said prosecutor Jenny Haigh.

On another occasion, a neighbour heard shouting coming from the property, and went to the aid of the man, who she described as having his head in his hands, saying: "Please leave me alone, I just want to be left in peace."

Days later, he approached a man in the street, and said he owed him a favour because he had once saved his life after he collapsed.

Robbins said he needed money for his daughter's seventh birthday, and accompanied his victim to a cashpoint machine where he withdrew £150.

He returned four days later, saying he was being threatened and asked for £40 to get the bullies to leave him alone.

The victim, a recovering alcoholic, said in a statement: "I feel I have been targeted as a vulnerable person and handed over money against my better judgement and true wishes."

Robbins, of Tiverton Grove, Hartlepool, admitted three charges of fraud by false representation, as well as two shop thefts, a handbag snatch from a car and a sneak-in burglary at a bakery where he stole a purse, money and gift vouchers.

He was jailed for a total of two years and ten months - which also included a sentence for affray, which initially attracted the deferred decision.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said Robbins had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and there are two different sides to him.

He said a plea for a suspended sentence would be "perhaps ambitious", but asked Judge Morris: "To give him this one last chance."