Police in Barcelona say they've arrested a serial mugger who would target women, express remorse and then ask them to spit at him.

　　The 29-year-old is suspected of robbing 19 women in one month to finance a slot-machine addiction. Police said the suspect always used the same tactic - corner women in apartment building doorways or lifts and threaten them, inspector Benjamin Blanco told the newspaper La Vanguardia. After taking money, the man would apologise, say he knew he was doing something bad and ask the women to spit at him, Blanco said. Some did, he added.

　　"I've been at this for 27 years and I swear I've never come across anyone who asked their victims to do something like this," Blanco was quoted as saying.