A SERIAL bank robber who held up the same bank twice by telling staff he had a gun in a carrier bag is facing jail.

Gary Horn, of Wimborne Road, Southend, walked into the Co-Op bank, in London Road, Southend, on December 7 and threatened staff into handing over £1,670.

Basildon Crown Court heard the 59-year-old has a conviction from 2015 for robbing the same bank in a similar manner.

He also held up the Lloyds TSB branch, in London Road, Westcliff on August 19, 2013, making off with £2,190.

In that case, he passed a note to a cashier claiming to have a gun. The note was found in his possession when he was arrested.

Following the robbery last year, Horn went on the run but handed himself in at Southend police station two weeks later.

Horn appeared at court by videolink and pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery.

The court heard that although a pre-sentence report from the probation service had been prepared, police have not handed over CCTV footage or victim impact statements.

Charlotte Davison, prosecuting, said: “I do ask for an adjournment to get the CCTV. That will give an indication as to how realistic it looked.”

Chris Whitcombe, mitigating, also asked for an adjournment on the grounds that the victim impact statement could help Horn’s case.

He said: “The pre-sentence report states Mr Horn poses a high risk to the public.

“If she doesn’t say she suffers a high level of psychological harm then it might undermine the level of dangerousness that’s been put forward.”

Addressing Mr Whitcombe, Judge Ian Graham said it was “tempting” to sentence Horn immediately but that would “not be right”.

He said: “The victim impact statement might assist you. You would obviously need to consider the dangerousness submissions.”

Speaking to Horn, the judge said sentencing will be put off until February 2.

He said: “You have pleaded guilty to this offence of robbery and you will be given credit for that guilty plea.

“But obviously you have put yourself in a difficult position by committing a third robbery in just over three years.

“I’m not going to sentence you today because I think the proper information needs to be before the court.”