A transsexual robber who struck wearing a miniskirt and knickers on his head created a problem for magistrates, who were unsure whether to remand him in a male or female prison.

Chloe Bradley, 23, a pre-operation male to female transsexual, admitted on September 5 to twice holding up the Texaco garage in Kingston Road, New Malden, stealing more than £100.

Kingston Crown Court heard how Bradley, who has had hormone treatment and changed his name to Chloe, walked into the Texaco garage at 4.45am on December 12 last year.

He was wearing a pair of jeans with a miniskirt over the top and a pair of flesh-coloured women's knickers on his head with eye-holes cut out.

He jumped over the counter, terrifying the cashier, and stole an unknown quantity of money.

Leaving the petrol station, he took off his jeans, leaving just the miniskirt.

Nearly three weeks later, on December 31, Bradley returned to the same garage at 4.20am, again wearing women's knickers on his head.

Threatening the cashier with a large kitchen knife, he again jumped over the counter and stole about £100.

Bradley, who used to work behind the bar at Woody's pub in New Malden, was recognised by policemen from CCTV images of the robbery.

Despite the seriousness of the crime, Kingston magistrates later bailed Bradley to an address in Thetford Road, New Malden, due to the uncertainty of whether to remand him in a male or female prison.

In March this year, the address became no longer suitable for bail and Bradley was remanded in Wandsworth, a male prison, to await trial.

Bradley will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on October 4.