An armed robber who targeted banks in north west London while on day release from prison has been handed two more life sentences.

Sean Bradish was in the process of being released from HMP Spring Hill after serving ten years of a life sentence for hundreds of armed robberies, when he stole £30,000 from banks in north west London while on day release.

He targeted the Lloys TSB in Finchley Road four times, another branch in Kingsbury Road and a Barclays in Ickenham by threatening cashiers with an imitation firearm.

He was given two life sentences, with a minimum of eight and a half years, after admitted six counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and seven counts of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violent at the Old Bailey on Friday February 21.

Bradish, 46, of Shoot Up Hill, Kilburn, carried out four offences while on day release then a further three after he had been released on licence.

Video Loading

The police were on to him by the time of his last robbery in Swakeleys Road, Ickenham, and they caught him a few hours later with the cash and firearm in his possession.

The robber used an imitation silver firearm in some offences then sprayed it black for later offences.

He was seen making off on a mountain bike on several occasions.

The spate of robberies happened between April 28 2012 and March 25 2013.

Judge Nicholas Cooke QC stressed: “This spate of offending put bank employees and members of the public in a galling state of fear, and all of this was done in suburban high streets. Your case is unique in my experience as these offences were committed while you were on day release leading up to what was hoped to be the end of a life sentence for armed robbery. How anyone will be able to tell when you are safe to be released given your deceit in the past is impossible for me or anyone else to tell.”

On each occasion he walked in to the branch with his face covered and took out an imitation fire arm and threatened members of staff.

They handed over cash, which he stuffed in to a rucksack and then walked out of the banks.

In total Bradish stole roughly £30,000 from this string of offences but he was serving a life sentence for hundreds of heists over a period of three and a half years during which he accumulated more than £250,000.