A man who carried out two sweet shop robberies at gunpoint has been jailed following a manhunt.

Darren O'Shea, 45, has been sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison at Snaresbrook Crown Court today, January 7.

He had previously pleaded guilty after robbing a Co-op convenience store on Westhorne Avenue, E9, and attempting to rob a sweet shop in Charlton.

Detective Constable David Reed, of the Met’s Flying Squad, led the investigation. He said: “I have no doubt the suspect would have continued committing this terrifying spate of robberies and the sentence today is a deterrent to those thinking of carrying out such violent crimes.”

On Saturday, July 13, O'Shea entered the Co-op in Barnes at around 9pm and threatened the store clerk with a gun, demanding money from the register.

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The 45-year-old managed to take around £300, but after the robbery, a family member of one of the shop workers recognised O'Shea from CCTV footage.

Just five days later, on Thursday July 18, the man attempted to rob a small sweet store in Charlton at gun point.

But this time, the shop assistant manager to trigger the panic button, causing him to flee.

Once police had reviewed the CCTV from the Charlton store, they quickly identified O'Shea as the person responsible for both robberies.

Police launched a manhunt, and Flying Squad officers were able to track down O'Shea to an apartment near where he had attempted the second robbery.

He was arrested and the premises were searched by officers, who seized a firearm and the clothing wrn by the robbery in both offences.

O'Shea admitted to police that he'd used the firearm to steal money and admitted to use both robberies to fund his drug addiction, although forensics determined that the firearm was actually an imitation gas-powered handgun.

He was charged on Friday, August 19 and remanded in custody.