A career criminal wanted for breaching his parole licence while serving a life sentence was caught just an hour after a police appeal on TV show Crimewatch.

Nicholas Edwards, 49, from West Wickham, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Croydon Crown Court in April 2004 after pleading guilty to robbery and having a firearm with intent.

In November 2003, Edwards, who has various tattoos, including the word LOVE crossed out on his left hand and HATE on the right, threatened staff with a handgun at a Tesco Express in Purley and stole £60.

He was released from prison on parole in July last year, which was revoked a month later after he failed to register with his probation officer.

Edwards, also known as Nicholas Brown, was arrested in Applegarth, New Addington, at 11.15pm last night - following Crimewatch.

He has 22 convictions covering 75 previous offences dating back to 1975.