A newspaper’s appeal to catch the criminals involved in the summer riots has proved a success after a reader spotted one of the main culprits in the street.

Following the riots in August the Croydon Advertiser published pictures of looters on its front page and asked for readers help in catching those involved under the headline ‘Help bring these rioters to justice’.

The day after the paper was published, a reader recognised Gordon Thompson after seeing his picture in the Advertiser that morning and immediately called police who arrested him shortly afterwards.

He has now admitted to looting from two stores on the same night and is also facing charges for being responsible for torching House of Reeves furniture store, a family business which was burnt down during the riots.

The paper's front page published on 12 August

Thompson had been pictured on the front of the paper clutching two bottles of wine.

The image was a still taken from a video recorded by senior reporter Gareth Davies and a freelance photographer who went undercover during the worst night of the riots.

Said Gareth: “When I was told a reader had recognised Thompson as a result of the work we did that evening, I was really pleased. It certainly took some of the sting out of being punched in the face.

“The video still of Thompson with a smirk on his face as he walked out of Iceland carrying two bottles of wine was one of the more striking images of the night, and was a worthy centre-piece of the that week’s front-page

“It’s fantastic that a reader reacted so aptly to the headline, and really did help bring at least one of the rioters to justice.”

In a piece published on HTFP shortly after the riots, Gareth told he was kicked in the face by the rioters.

Gordon Thompson admitted two counts of burglary at London Crown Court in relation to the looting. He will face trial next year after pleading not guilty to charges relating to the House of Reeves fire.

He denies arson with intent to endanger life and an alternative of arson reckless as to whether life is endangered. He also denies one count of violent disorder and a third burglary charge.