A prisoner who robbed a woman at knifepoint after he escaped from jail is due to be sentenced.

Lee Cyrus, also known as Ivan Leach, went on a one-man crime spree after he absconded from prison in Lincolnshire on October 9, 2012.

On December 2, he was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of committing 11 separate offences, which increased in violence, on women and the elderly.

The 48-year-old attacked a 33-year-old woman at knifepoint as she entered her home in Crouch End, on Friday, November 30 at 12.30am.

She told police she saw Cyrus standing in front of her wearing a dark-coloured balaclava and gloves.

He demanded her bag and then grabbed it, but the victim resisted.

Cyrus produced a knife and pressed it up against her neck, cutting her slightly to the chin and throat.

She let go of the bag instantly and Cyrus made off with her mobile phone, cash, credit card, keys, glasses and other items.

During the trial, the court heard how Cyrus went missing from HMP North Sea Camp open prison, in Boston, Lincolnshire in October last year after going on day release.

Within weeks of his absconding there were a number of indecent exposure offences in the Hampstead Heath area of Camden.

He was finally caught after officers in Camden captured Cyrus within minutes of him threatening and indecently exposing himself to a 45-year-old lone woman in the Dartmouth Park Hill area.

The victim told officers that he said he was going to rape her.

Cyrus was arrested after a brief struggle and taken to Kentish Town Police Station.

Following his arrest, police searched the room which Cyrus was staying in and found stolen items as well as the black balaclava, black boots, black gloves used in the attacks.

Sentencing is due to take place tomorrow.