A pregnant robber begged a judge to delay her sentencing so her baby won't be born in jail.
Chantelle Riley kept lookout for a knife-wielding thug who raided the Subway restaurant in West Derby Road, Tuebrook.
The 32-year-old, of Sutton Street, Old Swan, and an unknown accomplice left two staff terrified on August 28 last year .
CCTV cameras captured the mum-of-one casing the branch - wearing pink pyjamas - shortly before the 7.45pm incident.
But today the seven months pregnant crook sobbed in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to robbery.
And she convinced a judge to give her a fortnight to make arrangements for the child, before leaving smoking a cigarette.
Zillah Williams, defending, said her client knew the unidentified man had a knife and admitted it was a joint enterprise robbery.
Ms Williams said: "She has previous convictions, mainly for shoplifting, but nothing of this magnitude before and has never before served a custodial sentence.
"There is slightly unusual circumstances in that Miss Riley is due to give birth on the 16th of June - it's just a little over two months away that she is due to give birth.
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"As your honour can see, she is extremely anxious about the inevitable custodial sentence in this case and the birth of her forthcoming child.
"She really does not want to have the baby in [HMP] Styal. Miss Riley is absolutely determined she will not have the baby with her in custody.
"She doesn't want that for the baby."
Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, said a mum could only keep a baby in jail for "a matter of weeks", before the child would be re-homed with family or foster parents.
Riley clasped her hand to her mouth and wailed, as Ms Williams explained it was planned that her mum would take care of the baby "as soon as it's born".
The barrister said her client had a 16-year-old son, who already lived with his gran - her mum - and that Riley accepted she would be sent to jail.
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She said: "The primary concern and real worry to Miss Riley is she doesn't want the baby to be born in Styal and spend its early months in prison with her.
"Would your honour consider adjourning sentence until after the birth of the child, then she would face the consequences of her actions?"
Judge Flewitt said he required a pre-sentence report to help him consider what was the "best solution for the unborn child principally".
The judge said: "She is going to have to live with the consequences of her decision to take part in this knifepoint robbery."
He said he was "not unsympathetic" and was prepared to meet her halfway - adjourning sentencing and granting her bail until April 30.
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Judge Flewitt said the probation service could then prepare a report addressing safeguarding issues and the child's care.
However, he said he could not promise a further adjournment, stating: "If the decision is she should go immediately to prison, and that would be what normally happens, then she should go - harsh as that sounds."
Judge Flewitt added "there is no way she is not going to prison - she must know that," to which Riley replied: "I do know that sir."
He said: "I'm not promising that the judge who deals with you then will adjourn further to allow you to have the baby at home.
"There are facilities for you to have the child in prison. I know you don't want that."
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Riley replied: "I just want a few weeks to get stuff ready for the baby, if I end up having it in prison, I will."
Judge Flewitt continued: "I'm giving you the best part of two weeks. I suggest you get on with making whatever arrangements you have to make."
He added: "You will be going to prison sooner or later."
