Prolific robber Tobias Clarke has admitted holding up six men and women in terrifying knife-point raids around Bath.
Armed with a six-inch blade, the 21-year-old struck around the same time every night during the crime spree of April 7 to May 14.
After a hearing at Bristol Crown Court today, Avon and Somerset police officer DC Alastair Quinn revealed the chilling similarities between the robberies and the tireless efforts in catching Clarke.
Of no fixed address but originally from Oxford, Clarke was arrested on May 15. In all of them he used a double-bladed, combat knife and threatened the victims.
car accessoriesUsually striking between 9.30pm and 9.45pm, after taking their cash, handbags or mobile phones, he would always say something along the lines of "turn around, walk away, and don't look back".
DC Quinn came to court on his day off to hear Clarke utter the words "guilty".
It represented the culmination of extensive forensic work, statement taking and even expensive mobile phone analysis that placed Clarke in Bath on the nights of the robberies.
The April crimes took place on North Parade, Lime Grove and Pulteney Road; and the May ones happened on James Street West and Upper Bristol Road.
One of four lone females Clarke preyed upon was American student Chloe Hughton. She had just returned from the United States, where her father had died from cancer, when she was robbed. Police found Clarke had a dollar bill he had taken from her.
His oldest victim was Richard Lovett, a war veteran in his eighties who had bravely served with the RAF.
"Clarke was unknown to us before these crimes," said DC Quinn. "We carried out proactive patrols in the areas of the robberies and we found him on the street in possession of a bag containing a balaclava, combat knife and stolen property from his last victim.
"The victims were all very worried the knife would be used. The blade would be waved in front of them.
"Clarke was a man from completely out of our area, he was not a known offender with known local links.
LED Light Bulb SP70-5W "Knife-point robberies in Bath are about as rare as a unicorn so we were willing to put in the time and money to make Bath the safest city we possibly can."
Clarke made no comment in police interviews, other than a statement that he was not from the Bath area.
Extensive forensic work was carried out and a fingerprint of Clarke's was found in a house on Pulteney Avenue.
Detectives later discovered the 21-year-old had worked at Gala Bingo and Carphone Warehouse in the city.
Lee Quinn, link crime coordinator at Bath Police station, said: "It took a lot of work. Coming down to court to hear him say he was guilty shows what it means to us, but especially for the community."
Clarke had previously been convicted of knife-point robberies in Oxford and was on parole at the time he went on his crime spree. He was not a known drug user and described by police as an "intelligent young man".
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DC Clarke added: "It looks like he had nowhere to live and had no money coming in. Robbery is often a crime of desperation."
Clarke also pleased g
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