A thug robbed a man of his bike told officers he was returning it to victims of a theft.
Stuart Black, 41, pounced on Alan Mitchell in Glasgow city centre on October 5, 2020.
Black punched Mr Mitchell from the bike as he was riding before cycling away with it.
Officers traced Black who told them: "A guy said he stole their bike, so I just helped them get it back and gave it to them."
Black pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assault and robbery.
The court heard officers attended Argyle Street where they were met by Mr Mitchell.
He told them that he had been "punched off his bike" and fell to the ground before being robbed of it.
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A description of the attacker was passed to police who then watched CCTV of the incident.
Prosecutor Lauren Donnelly said: "It showed Black running after Mr Mitchell and punching him to the head causing him to fall to the ground from his bike.
"Black was seen to pick up the bike and cycle off with it."
Officers attended a bank the following day for further CCTV enquiries when they ran into Black nearby.
It is then he was arrested where he made the comment.
Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by sheriff Matthew Jackson QC.
Black, of the city's Easterhouse, was granted bail meantime.
