A man was forced to leap from a moving van after he was the victim of a violent robbery, a court has heard.

David Robert Purdie was said to have been held "effectively against his will" by two criminals during an incident which unfolded in the Carlisle area last September.

At the city's crown court today Anthony Lee McAllister, 30, and 34-year-old Claire Nicola Boswell admitted robbing Mr Purdie of cash on September 30.

Some details about the incident were given during a short hearing in front of Judge Tony Lancaster, who will pass sentence later this month.

The robbery was said to have been committed after Mr Purdie was offered a lift home.

Prosecutor Daniel Prowse said of the incident: "Threats were subsequently made. David Purdie was detained effectively against his will and threw himself from the van."

McAllister and Boswell had each put forward a basis of plea to reflect their respective roles in the offence.

"The offence was not pre-planned," stated McAllister's basis of plea, which was read by his lawyer, Paul Tweddle. "When I met David Purdie he asked for a lift home. I will not dispute the remainder of the Crown's evidence against me."

Greg Hoare, for Boswell, said of her account: "The robbery began to occur while she was driving the vehicle.

"While she had limited involvement in it, it was unplanned."

Both defendants were said to have relevant previous convictions on their respective criminal records.

McAllister had been jailed in the past for false imprisonment and robbery. Boswell, meanwhile, had wounding, kidnapping and aggravated vehicle taking offences on her rap sheet.

Judge Lancaster adjourned the case until January 31, when he will hand down sentences to the pair at the crown court.

An assessment of dangerousness will be made to determine whether the two defendants are likely to cause serious harm to the public by committing further crimes.

Until the sentencing hearing McAllister, of Caldbeck Road, and Boswell, of Petteril Terrace, both Carlisle, were remanded in custody.