Meet Aaron Pitt: One of Walsall's most prolific criminals behind bars for another 'scumbag rampage'

The 43-year-old was jailed for 12 years bringing an end a prolific drug-fuelled career of crime consisting of 95 offences of robbery, armed robbery and burglary.

The residents of Walsall can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing they cannot fall victim to one of the town's most relentless criminals.

Pitt went on what he described as a "scumbag rampage" last summer when he held-up shops, credit unions and bookies with knives, blades, hammers, scissors and crude home-made weapons.

Pitt, who grew up in Leamore before moving to Pelsall, was finally arrested after taking betting shop worker hostage, threatening to kill her, fighting the police and then trying to escape in a squad car.

Wrought with guilt after drying out from drugs Pitt wrote a five page confession to officers apologising for terrorising the young female betting shop worker, whose family he knew. Through a terrifying ordeal during which he threatened to kill her whilst paying her creepy complements.

Pitt previously claimed to have robbed a man of £1,200 to pay for IVF treatment but he finally ran out of excuses at Wolverhampton Crown Court when Judge Rhona Campbell sentenced him for a litany of crimes.

Instead of being distraught at his punishment Pitt beamed on video link from HMP Hewell because if his sentences had run concurrently he would have not seen the light of day for 20 years. However, he still had to ask the judge if he had received 12 or 16 years (how long he will be on licence for).

Never a criminal mastermind, Pitt robbed shops, post offices and betting shops in Walsall where he was well-known with a hammer, pretend gun and other home made weapons.

Pitt also bullied a fellow drug addict into joining him on some crimes but showed there was at least some honour among thieves by never giving up the name of their getaway driver.

Pitt was jailed three weeks ago at Wolverhampton Crown Court but West Midlands Police only released his picture this week after the Express & Star argued his many victims would like to know he will not be bothering them for at least eight years.

With a criminal record stretching back to his teenage years Pitt has been a frequent visitor to police stations, courts and prisons throughout his adult life with the long arm of the law often catching up with him.

His first forays into a life of crime came through breaking into homes and businesses.

Judge Campbell detailed his "reprehensible" criminal record and "wholly dishonest" life before sending him down.

Throughout the sentencing, which lasted more than 90 minutes, Pitt doodled and coloured in pictures from HMP Hewell, and repeatedly vaped as he listened to his fate.

He was happy to hear his catalogue of crimes. However, whenever a perceived injustice or untrue slight on his character occurred he immediately piped up.

"That burglary was a commercial premises, not someone's house, the police made a mistake logging the crime," he interjected without his lawyers help.

He listened contently to how he held his victim hostage, threatened to stab her to death and told her he'd killed before and would do it again because he had terminal cancer.

However, when told he had syringes and injected drugs in the bookies he exploded in wronged defiance despite it making no difference to the sentence he would receive.

Judge Campbell did not question his version events just merely moved on to how he forced his female victim to phone her stepfather to tell him she would be late finishing as they both waited for the safe timer to allow it to be opened.