A JOBLESS man who robbed a bookmaker in Penge has been jailed.

Ross Jackson went to William Hill in Croydon Road on September 4 last year at around 11am.

After waiting for two customers to leave, the 23-year-old threatened the cashier before snatching £182 and fleeing.

Jackson told the cashier he had a concealed gun but never revealed it during the robbery.

Officers from the Penge and Cator safer neighbourhood team recognised the description of the suspect matched that of a local man they had seen loitering in the area.

They passed the information to the Met’s Flying Squad who were investigating and Jackson was arrested at his home in Maple Road, Penge.

He was detained less than six hours after the robbery.

Police have never found the gun linked the robbery and suspect Jackson did not actually have a weapon.

Jackson admitted robbery and was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to 16 months in jail.

Sergeant Rob Goodwin, head of the Penge and Cator safer neighbourhood team, said: "This is an excellent example of how safer neighbourhoods policing works.

“Using our local knowledge the team were able to successfully identify the suspect, enabling colleagues from the Flying Squad to successfully apprehend him.”