A ROBBER gave police investigators a close-up mugshot when he attempted to move an off-licence security camera.

Anthony Coyles, 25, was part of a three-man gang which struck at Boozebusters, in Newcastle Road, Sunderland, locking one assistant in a store cupboard, while another was grabbed and restrained.

Durham Crown Court was told that the gang made off with cash and pre-pay mobile phone cards grabbed from the till, but not before Coyles stretched up to alter the angle of the security camera.

Tom Moran, prosecuting, told the court that, in doing so, he inadvertently gave a clear view of his face, which led to his subsequent arrest. Coyles was arrested after breaking into the Railway Tavern, in Hylton Road, Sunderland, in the early hours to steal from gaming machines.

Two passing milkmen alerted police, who arrested him at the scene.

John Temple, mitigating, said that Coyles was "unable to break the vicious cycle of prison, release, offending, getting caught and more prison".

His crimes were committed to feed his drink and drug habits.

Coyles, of Howick Park, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, who admitted burglary and robbery, was jailed for three years.