A Streatham man has been sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in jail for murdering a fashion store manager he was trying to rob.
Errol Clarke, 44, of Rutford Road, admitted stabbing Anthony Pratt just metres from his home in Camberwell on August 2 last year.
Clarke, who was linked to 11 other robberies, was also given a 16-year sentence for two other robberies and one attempted robbery, to be served concurrently.
Just four days before the murder of Mr Pratt, in the early hours of July 29, Clarke approached a 22-year-old man in Rush Common, Brixton Hill, and stabbed him in the stomach after he was unhappy with the amount of money his victim handed over.
Two days earlier another victim in Shakespeare Road, Herne Hill, was slashed in both hands during a robbery.
Judge Roger Chapple described Clarke as a drug addict who would stop at nothing, not even murder, to get money to feed his addictions.
Mr Pratt's brother Christopher paid tribute to the police's "hard work and dedication" that led to the guilty plea.
He added: "Andrew's family and friends have lost a wonderful, well respected, vibrant man who was full of life.”
He said the family also recognised not only had they lost a son and brother, but Errol Clarke's family had also lost a member of their family.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here