A former mental patient has admitted carrying out a series of armed robberies in Oxford, and been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Leigh Cooper, 27, today pleaded guilty at Oxford Crown Court to five charges of robbery and one of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

The robberies took place at Betfred bookmakers, Threshers off-licence, Lloyds TSB and on an Oxford Bus Company Bus, all in the Headington area.

Cooper, of Banbury Road, Oxford, was arrested by police after a raid on a bus in Barton in January.

Cooper was once a patient at Warneford Hospital.