A robber is facing a lengthy jail sentence after admitting raiding a Maidstone post office while armed with a machete.

Leon Beckles was given the warning when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday.

The 33-year-old, of Loose Road, Maidstone, pleaded guilty to attempting to rob Ketan Dixit of cash at Kingsley post office in Kingsley Road on September 21.

He also admitted assaulting Mr Dixit with intent to rob, robbing Johnny Bhattachan of a laptop computer and having an offensive weapon.

Beckles denied wounding Mr Dixit with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and the charge was left on the court file.

Danny Moore, defending, told Judge Jeremy Gold QC: “It is obviously a very serious matter indeed. It is robbery of a shop. A machete was used to cause injury during the course of it.”

Adjourning sentence for reports until January 11, the judge said Beckles would have to be assessed for dangerousness. “Custody in inevitable,” he added.

Beckles was remanded in custody.