An armed robber was jailed for life after pleading guilty to a string of armed robberies on a chain of bookmakers.

Malcolm Parker, 47, of Pixton Way, New Addington, targeted eight Ladbrokes betting shops across the south-east over a nine-month period.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment at Kingston Crown Court on Monday after admitting eight counts of robbery and seven firearms offences at a previous hearing. The judge recommended he serve a minimum of 20 years in prison.

The court heard that Parker carried out raids in London, Surrey and in Oxford between September 2003 and June 2004.

He was arrested hours after targeting a Ladbrokes betting shop in Headington, Oxford, on June 21 last year after an operation by the Metropolitan Police's flying squad.

Detective Inspector Andy Dunn, of the flying squad, said: "Today's sentence reflects the serious nature of Malcolm Parker's offences.

"He terrorised staff at bookmaker premises over a period of time and he represents a serious danger to the public which has been reflected in the judgment."