A man has been jailed for five years for the theft of a security van containing £1.2million two decades ago.

Eddie Maher, 57, was jailed at Southwark Crown Court yesterday after spending 20 years on the run in the US.

He was arrested for immigration and firearms offences after the US authorities were informed of his whereabouts by his former daughter-in-law.

Maher stole a Securicor van he was driving from outside a bank in Suffolk.

He was born in Ilford and his mother Elsie lived in Barkingside until her death a few years ago. He was one of 12 children.

Prosecutors are looking for three possible accomplices, including Maher’s brother Michael Maher, as well as Michael Sulsh and Terrence Bender.