A MAN has pleaded guilty to robbing a woman of her handbag and cash when he targeted her last year.

Damien Smith made the admission when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday morning.

The court heard that Smith stole the woman's handbag containing her purse which had her banks cards in and £180 in cash on February 16.

Judge Anthony Brown adjourned the hearing for four weeks to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be compiled by the probation service.

The 26-year-old, of Cresswell Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty robbery.

Smith was warned that the seriousness of the offence cross the custody threshold.

He said: "This is likely to attract a custodial sentence, your advocate has requested a pre-sentence report and I'm minded to agree.

"The fact I'm doing that should not be taken as an indication what the likely sentence be; it is likely to be custody but that will be decided on the next occasion."

He will be sentenced on February 3.