A man and woman accused of carrying out a knifepoint robbery have had the charge against them dropped after the ‘victim’ left the county.

Bruno Yoaquim was held up on February 17 when his wallet, which contained his bank card and PIN, were taken. And minutes later Sean Drayton and Kelly Thirkettle were using the card to make withdrawals from cash machines.

But after hearing the complainant had left the country, lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to seek a trial.

Drayton, 45, was on early release from prison after getting three years and three months in November 2015 for a knifepoint robbery.

And among his previous convictions are another robbery, burglary and drug dealing as well as assaulting police.

But Drayton and Thirkettle, 38, admitted two counts of fraud, pleading not guilty to the robbery.

They admitted withdrawing £600 from a cash machine at Tesco on Ocotal Way and £350 from another on the Saturday, but denied another the next day.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, said: “Mr Yoaquim, having been robbed at knife point, had left the country never to return. I make no observations on the decision not to proceed with the matter.”

Thirkettle, of County Road, also pleaded guilty to a burglary and theft on Friday August 4 last year.

She admitted taking a mobile phone belonging to a man living in the Gladys Plumbley Gardens sheltered accommodation complex in Gorse Hill.

And on the same day she stole £20, a ring, and another mobile phone from a different man.

Susan Cavender, for Thirkettle, said her client is keen to be assessed for a drug rehabilitation requirement.

Although she had one two years ago it didn’t work as she was still using at the time but she is now clean, having been off drugs for two weeks. The court heard that she was currently serving a jail term for other matters and is not due for release until December 27.

Drayton, who appeared in court by videolink, has been recalled to serve the earlier sentence.

Remanding the pair back in to custody Judge Jason Taylor QC said “I will adjourn to January 8.

“Mr Drayton, I will remand you in custody on these two matters. Likewise Miss Thirkettle, you will be sentenced that day. I'm going to adjourn for pre-sentence reports for you, no promises are given for you. You will then be sentenced on the next occasion.”