Gary Crawford — who was jailed for life in 1995 after he killed Thomas Nolan at a petrol station in Drumchapel following a row over a game of pool — held up a building society last November before stealing cash from another weeks later.

The 44-year-old thug was caught after police released a CCTV photo of the suspected raider.

Last week he was jailed for a total of six years and eight months at the High Court in Glasgow after admitting to the two robberies.

It also emerged Crawford — who also has a string of convictions for assault and robbery — had only been released from jail on licence in December 2012 after being convicted of murder in 1995.

His latest offending started on November 25 last year when Crawford demanded cash from a terrified female worker at a Dunfermline Building Society in Johnstone while armed with a knife and fled with £755.

He then targeted another Dunfermline Building Society in Paisley just weeks later on December 13.

The staff member there became aware he had a blade and was so petrified she handed over £1,235 in cash.

However, on his way out, Crawford told the woman he was “sorry” for what he had done.

John Scott QC, defending, said Crawford had been “struggling to cope with the outside world” after spending so long behind bars.

Mr Scott said the thug had tried to get work after being freed, but had found himself at “the bottom of the list of candidates” due to his criminal record.

Lady Rae said she would have jailed Crawford for 10 years, had it not been for his guilty pleas.

The judge told him: “You are clearly a persistent and high risk violent offender.” It was also heard Crawford may never be released from prison again and that it would be up to the parole board to decide.