A Workington criminal has been jailed for four years after he carried out a robbery and an attempted robbery - and then apologised to his terrified victims.

Barrie Lee, 32, who has battled against serious mental health problems, targeted the Greggs sandwich shop in Whitehaven and a lone teenager at Workington's bus station.

The defendant, of Trinity Court, Workington, admitted robbing the 16-year-old college student on February 5, forcing the teenager to hand over £15 by threatening to stab him.

Lee also admitted attempting to rob a woman worker at Whitehaven's King Street Greggs shop on January 26.

At Carlisle Crown Court, Beccy McGregor, prosecuting, outlined both offences.

At around 3pm, on January 26, Lee walked into the King Street branch of Greggs and told his victim, a woman who was working behind the counter, that he needed money.

With his hands in his pockets, he asked her if she wanted to see his gun. He seemed agitated and drunk, the woman later told police.

She eventually handed him a slice of pizza and told him to go home. Miss McGregor said: "At this point, he apologised, and shook her hand.

"He tried to kiss her hand but she pulled it away." After the attempted robbery, the woman was left shaken and tearful, said the prosecutor.

The second serious offence happened ten days later at Workington's Murray Road bus station, where the 16-year-old victim was waiting to catch his bus home, the court heard.

Miss McGregor said: "The defendant sat next to him on a bench. The defendant was slurring his words and began speaking to [the boy].

"He said: 'Give me your money or I'll stab you in the neck." Lee kept repeating such threats to the teenager, telling he would be stabbed if he tried to run away.

Terrified, the boy eventually searched his bag and after finding £15 - money he had saved to pay for a computer game - he handed over the cash.

Miss McGregor said: "At this point, Mr Lee's behaviour became even more bizarre. He got up, put his arms around [the victim], hugged him, said he was sorry, and kissed him on the cheek."

Lee then shook his victim's hand and told him he should lead 'a better life.'

When the teenager arrived home, he was deeply distressed - to the point where he became hysterical, said the prosecutor.

In his impact statement, the teenager said what happened had freaked him out. He genuinely feared that if he had tried to flee he would have been stabbed.

Lee also admitted three thefts, all committed on January 26 in Whitehaven.

Clare Thomas, for Lee, said the defendant had been trying to get admitted to hospital for emergency psychiatric treatment on the day of the attempted robbery in Whitehaven but there was no bed available for him.

Coping with a bereavement, and the illness of his elderly grandmother, he had been taking prescribed medication to excess.

But while in custody, he had become a hard-working young man who had contributed positively to the prison community.

Judge Peter Davies imposed a total of four years jail, telling Lee: "You are not really a robber in that sense. There's nothing consistent or determined about you, but it was frightening nonetheless... That is a lenient sentence because I recognise the mental health problems you evidently have."

Should Lee reoffend in a similar way, warned the judge, the court would have to consider his record and whether he is a dangerous offender.

That could result in him going to jail for a very long time.

Lee's previous convictions include offences of battery, affray, and blackmail. His blackmail victim was an elderly neighbour with mental health issues, whom Lee threatened with a hammer in order to take his disability benefit, the court heard. Lee regularly took him to the Post Office so he could take his benefits from him.