Linwood man Gary Crawford held up a building society last November before stealing cash from another weeks later.

Crawford was caught after police released a CCTV photo of the suspected raider.

It lead to the 44 year-old — who admitted to the two robberies — being jailed for a total of six years and eight months at the High Court in Glasgow.

It emerged Crawford had only been released from jail on licence in December 2012 after being convicted of murder in 1995.

The thug also has a string of convictions for assault and robbery.

The latest offending started on November 25 last year when Crawford — armed with a knife — demanded cash from a worker at a Dunfermline Building Society in Johnstone, Renfrewshire.

Crawford managed to flee with £755 leaving the woman terrified.

He then targeted another Dunfermline Building Society in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on December 13.

The female worker there became aware he had a blade and was so petrified 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.

Crawford was jailed for life in 1995 after he killed Thomas Nolan at a petrol station in Glasgow’s Drumchapel following a row over a game of pool.

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

Lady Rae said she would have jailed Crawford for 10 years, but for his guilty pleas.

The judge told him: “You are clearly a persistent and high risk violent offender.” Lady Rae said Crawford may never be released from prison again and that it would be up to the Parole Board to decide.