A MASKED raider who allegedly held up two off-licences in one night later confessed all when working on a man's house, a jury was told.

Craig Garside, 31, helped himself to cash to the tune of more than £150 from Booze Busters in Bank Street, Rawtenstall, brandishing a knife.

About an hour later he struck again at a corner shop on Burnley Road in the town, making off with £65 after threatening the owner with what he believed was a gun.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Garside was later arrested after he did some property repairs and was said to have owned up to what he had done.

Garside, of Burnley Road East, Whitewell Bottom, denies two counts of robbery, on June 6, last year.

Sharon Watson, prosecuting, said around 9pm shop assistant Caroline Tynan was working alone in Booze Busters when a man entered wearing a black stocking pulled over his head and face.

He demanded the till be opened and Miss Tynan noticed he was armed with a craft knife with the blade extended.

The man grabbed Miss Tynan's sweat shirt, again demanded cash and after the assistant opened the till, he made off with £152.

She was later able to tell police the robber had been wearing a waist length zip jacket, salmon pink top and black work boots.

Miss Watson said around 9.55pm, Azim Khan was in his shop on Burnley Road when a man went in , pulling a mask over his face.

He demanded money, threatened Mr Khan with what he believed was a gun and stole £65.

The robber then got away on a bike but was seen by a passer-by walking his dog.

The prosecutor said about a month after the raids, the defendant started doing repair work on a house owned by a man named Matthew Simpson and confessed he had been involved in the robberies.

(Proceeding)