A member of a South American pick pocket gang who robbed a woman of £700 has been jailed.

Carlos Rodriguez, 53, of Grange Road, in Bermondsey, was caught on CCTV following the woman after she withdrew money from Lloyds Bank, High Street, Sutton, on Monday, September 29.

A spokesman for Sutton police said: "With the money in her rucksack, the bank customer, who was accompanied by her daughter, went to Zizzi’s restaurant.

"They sat down at a table and were joined by a man, later identified as Rodriguez, and woman who had followed them inside.

"The unknown woman pretended to drop an item on the floor, touching the rucksack as she did so.

"As Rodriguez and his companion left the restaurant, the bank customer checked her rucksack and found her money had gone."

Distressed, the victim chased Rodriguez onto a bus where he denied having the money. She then chased after the woman on the opposite side of the road.

Images of the suspects were circulated; Rodriguez was arrested and at Blackfriars Crown Court on Wednesday, December 3 was charged and he pleaded guilty to the theft in Sutton.

He was jailed for three months.