A shotgun-wielding raider attacked a post office just days after being released from jail for robbing the same victim.

Billy Williams, 22, hit the St Mary’s Bay Post Office in February stealing £13,000 in cash and stamps.

But now a judge has heard that he had only been released from a seven-year sentence just days earlier.

The victim in each case was manager Patricia Fagg – who was held up by the same thug in December 2010.

Now Williams, formerly of St Martin’s Road, New Romney, will be sentenced for armed robbery and possessing an imitation firearm during the raid in February this year.

A charge of possessing cannabis, which Williams denied, was ordered to be left on the file.

Another man, Harry Powell, 22, of Coast Road, Greatstone, New Romney, also pleaded guilty to robbery.

Both men were remanded in custody and will be sentenced later in the year.

Anthony Prosser, prosecuting, said the armed raid, in which an air pistol was used, took place on Saturday with “exactly the same complainant as before”.

He said Powell had provided the getaway car, a Chrysler, after the raid.

Williams was jailed for seven years in 2011 for a number of robberies including a bookmakers in New Romney High Street, possessing a firearm intent and possessing a firearm when prohibited.

Williams had pointed a sawn-off shotgun at a bookie's son and made off with £2,820.

Anthony Prosser, prosecuting, had told Maidstone Crown Court three years ago how the bookmaker's son Leigh Mabey, 26, was behind the counter on the morning of June 18 when Williams burst in brandishing the shotgun. Customers were then ordered to lie on the floor.

A month later on July 22 he carried out a similar raid at St Mary’s Bay sub-post office in Teelin Close, stealing £8,278.

Wearing a crash helmet, Williams went in holding a pistol and demanded from postmistress Ms Fagg: "Where's the ------- money?"

He put his arm around the shoulder of elderly customer Roy Martin, aimed the gun at him and told Mrs Fagg: "If you don't give me the money I am going to shoot this man."

A trial of another man accused of robbery will take place later this year.