A ROBBER who travelled around the country targeting building societies in market towns, including Skipton, has been jailed for life at Cardiff Crown Court.

William Ford, 50, held up Skipton's Bradford and Bingley Building Society office on April 28, with a water pistol, which looked like a real gun.

Staff there welcomed the sentence, and said they were relieved with the outcome.

A spokesman at the company's head office said: "The law has taken its course. I think the public at large is pleased if there is one less person like this around."

He added that training into dealing with robberies of this type was ongoing but that staff in Skipton had dealt well with the situation.

The court heard that Ford pointed the pistol at the cashier, and said: "Put the money in the bag and it will be alright for you."

Ford operated so fast that a colleague of the cashier, who was arguing with another customer, did not even notice, said prosecutor David Wooler.

Ford, who lived in St Anne's, made off with £1,095.

He was arrested after closed circuit television footage of the Skipton robbery was shown on BBC's Crimewatch programme, when Ford was described as a Sean Connery lookalike.

He pleaded guilty to three charges of robbery, and three of possessing an imitation firearm with intent.

Mr Wooler said the first robbery had taken place on March 7 at the Abergavenny branch of the Cheltenham and Gloucester when £540 was stolen. And Ford fled with £3,040 after robbing the Shrewsbury branch of the Allied and Leicester on March 28. The last robbery was in Skipton.

The court heard that Ford returned to Blackpool where he was renting a flat, and was arrested after armed police officers surrounded his premises.

"He made an immediate and frank admission and told police he had no money, nowhere to live and was desperate," said Mr Wooler.

Ford had previous convictions for dishonesty throughout Britain, and had served eight years for robbing three building societies in the south of England.

Keith Thomas, defending, said: "He went seriously off the rails when he found his wife was having an affair with a close relative. Since then he has roamed the country with no settled roots."

He said no-one was injured, there was no violence, he acted alone, and being a considerate criminal, he avoided going into building societies where customers were being attended to.

After the hearing, investigating officer Det Con Peter Elliott said; "It is a good result, and will hopefully act as deterrent to other people."