An infamous young thug known as Spiderboy says he is ready quit his life of crime to become a responsible father.

Tommy Laws, 20, chose a bizarre time to make his announcement - he is on the run from the police.

Laws earned his nickname as a 15-year-old when he developed a talent for escaping the police by shinning up buildings and dashing across rooftops.

In July he got out of an "escape-proof" dock at North Shields Magistrates' Court by squeezing through a tiny gap in the bars.

He first appeared in court aged 11, has dozens of offences against his name, once committed 28 offences in a four- month period, and is currently wanted for robbery.

But he called his local newspaper on a borrowed mobile telephone to plead: "You can't judge a book by its cover."

Laws claims to have seen the light after girlfriend Michelle Suniga, 17, announced she was carrying his baby.

He insists she and the baby are the most important things to him and are the reason he will turn his back on crime.

He even had some advice on how his child should stay on the straight and narrow, suggesting the youngster leave the crime-ridden Meadow Well estate, in North Shields, North Tyneside, where he grew up.

Anyone who thinks they might have seen Laws should call Northumbria Police on 0191-214 6555.