A MAN accused of carrying out an armed robbery on a Clacton store has changed his plea to guilty during a trial.

Daniel Hardiman had denied robbing a Co-op store when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court.

But yesterday he changed his plea to guilty.

The 31-year-old had already admitted stealing six bottles of vodka from the same store just hours before the armed robbery.

The court heard how Hardiman stuffed handfuls of cash into his pockets after he held up staff at the shop in Coopers Lane.

Store manager Courtney Ellwood and shop worker James King had been confronted by Hardiman wielding a lock-knife as they were about to shut the store at around 10pm on August 7 last year.

Hardiman managed to open one till and another was opened before he stuffed cash into his pockets.

But the tills were fitted with a special security device to foil robbers.

As he fled from the scene, smoke and red dye billowed from his pockets and Hardiman dropped notes as he ran down the road.

He was followed by Mr Ellwood picking up the money, the trial heard.

During the robbery, Hardiman, of Crossfield Road, Clacton, slashed the manager across the arm.

Hardiman was later arrested.Tthe court heard how traces of dye were found on a sock he had with him at the time.

Microdots or tracer dots used in the till security device were also discovered on the sock. They matched those fitted to the till at the time, the court heard.

Hardiman was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.