A WOULD-be robber must await his fate after he admitted violently assaulting a train passenger.

Peter Turrant, 43, was due to stand trial at Basildon Crown Court yesterday accused of assault with intent to rob but at the last minute he changed his plea to guilty.

Turrant, of Aire Drive, South Ockendon, set upon the victim as he travelled on a c2c train between Rainham and Purfleet on June 7 last year.

During the attack Turrant ordered the man to hand over his wallet and watch and when the victim refused he struck him across the head with a stone he had picked up before boarding the train at Rainham.

The case was adjourned for a probation report and Turrant, who was released on conditional bail, will return to the court for sentence next month.