A prolific betting shop robber from New Addington is facing a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty to a string of armed raids in Surrey and south London.

Malcolm Parker, 46, of Bell Field, Pixton Way, forced victims to hand over cash at gunpoint, then ordered them to wait in the toilet while he fled.

He carried out the raids between September 2003 and June last year, when he was eventually caught following an investigation by Metropolitan Police flying squad officers.

He left fear in his wake after targeting shops across south London and Surrey, in Tooting, Beckenham in Kent, East Molesey and Walton in Surrey and as far afield as Oxford.

The Association of British Betting Shops offered a £5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Parker admitted eight counts of robbery and seven counts of possession of a firearm at Kingston Crown Court last week.

A further 13 robbery charges and 14 charges of possession of a firearm will lie on file with the Crown Prosecution Service.

They could be taken into consideration if Parker was convicted for any crimes in the future.

He is due sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on August 8.