A masked robber who held up a bank at gunpoint was jailed for nine years yesterday.

At the High Court in Glasgow William Mills, 41, was convicted of threatening staff and customers with a handgun and robbing the Royal Bank of Scotland in Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, of £8216.64.

Jailing Mills temporary judge Rita Rae QC told him: "You have been found guilty of a very serious offence: an armed robbery where a gun was used to threaten staff.

"A significant sentence has to be imposed."

The court heard that Mills, who was described as a prisoner in Barlinnie and has convictions dating back 20 years, walked into the branch at 10am on May 24 last year wearing a cap and with a scarf covering part of his face.

He produced a handgun, demanded money from staff and then as he left with cash ordered staff and customers to get down on the floor.

The raid was captured on CCTV but during the trial defence counsel for Mills Edgar Prais QC claimed that the man in the CCTV footage was not Mills. Mr Prais said: "Mr Mills maintains his position that he is innocent, but he accepts the jury's verdict."