A man has been jailed after his DNA found on his gloves was linked to an armed robbery in south east London.

Daniel Lee, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to commit a schedule one offence at Woolwich Crown Court.

He was jailed at the same court on Friday (April 19).

Lee has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison.

The court heard that at around 10.46am on December 10, 2023, Lee went into a newsagents in Eltham on Shawbrooke Road holding a firearm.

The 43-year-old then confronted a man working alone behind the desk and demanded money.

CCTV footage shows Lee pointing the gun at the victim’s head and assaulting him with the butt of the gun several times, causing minor injuries to his head.

He was dressed distinctively in a black hooded jumper, balaclava, one black glove, one yellow glove, and a pair of black trainers with an orange/red band at the back.

The court also heard that Lee stole an iPhone from the counter and a Samsung phone from the victim’s inside jacket pocket before leaving the scene on a bike, holding the cash shop drawer.

Later on, he was seen on a footpath near the newsagents trying to break open the cash drawer using the butt of the gun.

Lee discarded the pair of gloves on the footpath, which were later found by police.

Using these gloves, police found DNA of the victim and of Lee.

It was with this DNA and the CCTV footage that police identified him.

Police also found that he had worn the same clothes during prior interactions with police.

Lee was arrested in Eltham on Thursday, December 28, 2023 and was later charged.

Judge Francis also gave a Sheriff's Awards for Bravery to the victim as well as another member of the public who sought to intervene.

Detective Constable Seán Keogh of the Met Police’s Flying Squad said: “Criminality of this kind spreads terror through communities and can cause long lasting harm and trauma, all for very little personal benefit.

"I hope this sentence reassures the community that the police will identify and remove these offenders from law abiding society; as well as demonstrating to those who would consider similar actions that they have little to gain, but a lot to lose.”