A POSTMASTER today said he was delighted after a prolific crook who held up his Suffolk store and a string of others across had been captured.Donovan Williams, of Peckham, London, was one of three men who raided Shotley Gate Post Office on December 29.

A POSTMASTER today said he was delighted after a prolific crook who held up his Suffolk store and a string of others across had been captured.

Donovan Williams, of Peckham, London, was one of three men who raided Shotley Gate Post Office on December 29.

The 23-year-old, who had just been released from prison, escaped with an unknown quantity of cash along with two other men.

Barry Powell, who has run the Shotley Gate Post Office for ten years, was barged out of the way as the trio burst in.

He said: "I'm pleased the police have caught him and hope justice will be done when he's sentenced.

"I can still remember the incident clearly. We were just shell-shocked at the time and didn't really realise what had happened until it was over.

"At first you don't really have time to think about it because it was over in 20 seconds. It's quite disturbing when you think back though and it's something that does play on your mind."

Williams also took part in a series of other crimes, in Bristol, Oxford and Hemel Hempstead, targeting building societies each time.

But his crime spree came to an end when he stole £25,000 from a courier delivering money to a bank in south London.

After grabbing the cash, he was chased by the courier, who grabbed his jacket, causing his wallet to fall to the floor.

This carried identification that led detectives straight to his home, where he was arrested.

While being interviewed for the London offence, Williams admitted carrying out several others, including the Suffolk crime.

Dc Lizzie Winzer, who is based at Capel St Mary, was called to interview Williams.

She said: "This job was put to him and he admitted his involvement, although he refused to say who his two accomplices were.

"Needless to say, we were delighted to get a result and particularly pleased for the postmaster."

The prosecution of Williams, who is due to be sentenced on August 13 at the Inner London Crown Court, was a joint effort by detectives from across the country. It was sparked after a series of similar offences were committed within a short period of time.

Dc Keith Hutchinson, of Thames Valley police, said: "We identified a series of offences which happened across the south of England which had similar circumstances.

"This included crimes committed in Oxford, Bristol, Hemel Hempstead and Shotley Gate. These were put to him and he admitted them."

Williams had recently completed a three-year sentence for drugs' offences.