A hero policeman ignored his own safety and disarmed a gunman he feared was about to go on a killing spree.

PC Christian Rohman was confronted by robber Ray Jacklin pointing a black pistol at him with his finger on the trigger.

The officer immediately recognised him as a man wanted for a betting shop robbery in Brighton two days earlier.

Jacklin, told him: “I am the one who done Ladbrokes.”

PC Rohman grabbed the 60-year-old and bundled him to the ground as colleagues radioed for back-up.

He had no way of knowing that the gun was a realistic fake and acted with “considerable courage”, Hove Crown Court was told yesterday. (wed) Jacklin, a career criminal with previous convictions for armed robbery, was jailed for five years for robbery, having an imitation firearm with intent to commit crime, and possessing an imitation firearm in public.

Jacklin, who was sleeping rough in Brighton, waited until betting shop manager Kate Piecha, was alone inside Ladbrokes in Market Street, Brighton, on January 21.

Wearing a black jacket and black woolly hat he strode up to the counter and demanded cash.

He opened the jacket and showed her the handle of a realistic looking pistol in an inside pocket before telling her: “I have got a gun, give me the money. Don't touch or push anything.”

The terrified manager handed over £450 and waited until she was sure Jacklin had gone before raising the alarm.

She told police she could not stop shaking for hours after her traumatic ordeal.

Andrew Vout, prosecuting, said PC Rohman stopped a motorist for driving erratically in Lewes Road, Brighton, at 11.30pm on January 23.

As he spoke to the occupants of the car the driver told him: “That man has got a gun.”

PC Rohman turned to see Jacklin walking towards him holding the gun with his finger on the trigger.

Mr Vout said: “Showing considerable courage the officer ran up to the defendant, grabbed his arm and took him to the ground.

“During the course of the struggle the officer recognised his face from pictures of the robbery that had been circulated.”

After he was arrested Jacklin immediately confessed to the Ladbroke's robbery and apologised for terrifying Miss Piecha.

James McPherson, defending, said his client was deeply sorry for the fear he had caused her during the robbery.

The court was told Jacklin had bought a toy gun in a charity shop to frighten anyone who tried to attack him while he was sleeping rough.

Jacklin was a jailed for five years and will have to serve an extra three months of an earlier suspended sentence for burglary imposed last year.

Recorder Janet Nichols said: “The fear the manager at Ladbrokes must have felt when she saw that gun must have been immense.

“The police officer who then went on to tackle and arrest you believed you might be someone who was on a killing spree.

“He was in fear for himself and members of the public in the street at the time.”