The mother of a robber called police to identify her son after a closed circuit television picture of him was shown in the Nottingham Evening Post.

Thirty-year-old John Walker of Radford was caught after using a fake gun in robberies on women.

The Post published CCTV images of him using a victim’s bank cards as part of a police appeal – and his mother called the police.

Following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court he has now been jailed for life.

Judge Dudley Bennett said afterwards: “The court appreciates the efforts of the Nottingham Evening Post in this case.

“It ensured someone who is incredibly dangerous was brought to book as quickly as possible.”

Walker was convicted of three robberies, demanding cash, mobile phones and credit cards from his three female victims.

Riding up to each victim on a bike, he threatened to shoot if they did not hand over possessions, and even found out where one victim lived and warned her he would come after her if she went to the police.