A violent Stone robber who went missing from prison while on a trip to Brighton has been found in Eltham.

Peter Mahoney left Ford Prison last Friday (11 July) and travelled to Brighton on day release but did not return.

Mahoney had been given an indeterminate sentence in 2010 after he admitted charges of racially aggravated wounding, possession of a firearm, robbery and possession of an imitation firearm for offences he committed in November 2008.

After a public appeal by Sussex Police, officers at the Metropolitan Police found the 37-year-old in Eltham.

Officers arrested Mahoney at a house in Sidcup Road at 1.30am yesterday morning (17 July) on suspicion of being unlawfully at large. He is currently in custody.

In November 2008 Mahoney racially abused a customer in a Norwood shop, went home and then returned with an air pistol and shot the victim.

The following day he threatened a group of friends with an airgun in Stone after claiming to be a police officer. He then stole their car and sped off.

Detective Inspector Alan Pack, of Sussex Police, said: "This shows how quickly we can find and arrest wanted people when police officers, other agencies and the public work together.

"I'm grateful to the Met Police and the Prison Service as well as the media and the public for their help locating him."