A transsexual wearing a mini skirt and women's knickers who twice robbed a petrol station brandishing a large knife has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in a male prison.

Chloe Bradley, 23, a pre-operation male to female transsexual, twice held up the Texaco garage in Kingston Road in December last year.

Bradley, who has had hormone treatment and changed his name to Chloe, will serve her sentence in Wandsworth Prison after appearing for sentencing at Kingston Crown Court today.

She had previously pleaded guilty to the offences at a hearing in September.

Judge Martin Binning, sentencing, said: "These robberies were serious offences. You wore something over your head, were in possession of a knife and you caused people to fear for their safety."

On December 12, Bradley walked into the garage wearing a pair of jeans with a mini skirt over the top and flesh-coloured women's knickers on her head with eye holes cut out.

Shee jumped over the counter, terrifying the cashier, and stole an unknown quantity of money from the till.

Bradley returned again on December 31 at 4.30am, this time with a large kitchen knife and stole £100 from the till.

Judge Binning said the usual starting point for a defendant committing a crime like this was four years but he would bear in mind Bradley's guilty plea and special circumstances.

He added: "I also see that in your circumstances you are an easy target for bullies in a male prison."

Judge Binning said the 30 months' imprisonment was the lowest he could impose. Bradley has already served 200 days awaiting trial and sentence.

Micheal Goodwin, defending, said: "This is a young and vulnerable individual who is scared of the time she is going to have to spend in the prison environment her actions have put her in. She has learnt her lesson and will never spend time in front of this court again."

He said she intends to continue with the gender changing process.