A search has been launched to trace a robber who was part of a sledgehammer-wielding gang that raided 22 banks and post offices in two counties.
Merseyside Police said Ian Stewart, 55, is wanted on recall for breaching the terms of his licence. Stewart, of Liverpool, has links to Runcorn and Warrington, and was jailed in 2016 for 13 years for conspiracy to robbery.
The ECHO reported at the time how Stewart was part of a six-man gang that smashed its way into 22 banks and post offices netting £1.3m. Branches targeted ranged from NatWest in Warrington and NatWest in Neston to RBS in Waterloo and Barclays in Maghull.
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Robberies took place at 23 Merseyside and Cheshire locations in total.
Liverpool Crown Court heard staff in the affected premises were left "petrified" as robbers with sledgehammers and crowbars burst through the roofs, walls and doors.
Merseyside and Cheshire police teamed up to launch Operation Brenzett to investigate robberies committed using similar methods from 2009 to 2015.
When he fell to be sentenced in May 2016 over Brenzett, Stewart had already been jailed previously for 12 years for two robberies.
The ECHO reported that Nicholas Cockrell, defending Stewart, said the grandad-of-six had worked as a bus driver until quitting in 2001 due to the rare autoimmune condition Wegener’s granulomatosis.
Gang members were jailed for a total of 83 years.
Appealing for information over Stewart's whereabouts, a Merseyside Police spokesman said: "Ian Stewart has breached his licence conditions following his release after serving a sentence for conspiracy to commit robbery.
"He is described as around 5ft 7in tall, proportionate build, brown eyes and short hair.
"He has links across the Liverpool area, as well as Runcorn and Warrington."
Anyone with any information should contact Merseyside Police via Twitter @MerpolSthSefton, via "Merseyside Police Contact Centre" on Facebook, or by calling 101 quoting reference 22000692352.Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org
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