AN ARMED robber who prompted a tense siege at a North Yorkshire flat today started a 20-year jail sentence for a series of armed raids.

Crack cocaine addict John Bernard Rooney, 34, attacked or terrified staff in a post office, video outlets, garages and stores in Bridlington, West Yorkshire and Manchester, Jeremy Hill-Baker, prosecuting, told York Crown Court.

Only 11 days ago, when police tracked Rooney down to a red Metro car, he pulled a replica 45mm handgun on them before fleeing to a flat in Grosvenor Crescent, Scarborough.

A five-hour stand-off developed before Rooney gave himself up and confessed to 17 robberies using the replica gun, a knife or a baseball bat, two ram raids with stolen cars and two burglaries and said he had others planned.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, jailed Rooney for 17 years, plus three years unserved of a seven-year sentence for which he was on parole during the crime spree.

"Many of these offences were characterised by gratuitous that is to say unnecessary, cruel and brutal violence, because you pistol-whipped or beat about the face and head your victims," the judge told Rooney.

He commended Det Sgt Paul Thompson and DC Chris Gosling, of North Yorkshire Police, for their work in catching a "very dangerous man".

Rooney, formerly of Grosvenor Crescent, Scarborough, pleaded guilty to six robberies, one burglary, one firearms offence and asked for 20 more offences to be taken into consideration.

For Rooney, Nigel Wray said he had staged the robberies to fund the crack cocaine he began in a probation hostel after his release from prison. He was remorseful for his crimes.

Detective Inspector Lewis Raw, who led the investigation, said the speed Rooney was dealt with and the length of his sentence sent out a clear message to criminals.

Updated: 09:47 Saturday, May 24, 2003