A man has started a seven-year prison sentence just three weeks after being arrested for robbing a bank and then "fast-tracked" through the courts.

Anthony Heath, 31, of Church Road, Tranmere, admitted on Tuesday at Liverpool Crown Court to using a fake gun to rob a bank .

His case is one of the first to benefit from a government initiative trying to speed up convictions on street crime.

Mr Heath robbed a bank in Birkenhead on 31 May and was arrested two weeks later.

With the right will, these matters can be progressed quickly

Mike Stephenson CPS

He pleaded guilty to armed robbery and possessing an imitation firearm

Mike Stephenson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's street crime team, said: "The conviction of Anthony Heath was a very speedy process from arrest to sentence.

"With the right will, these matters can be progressed quickly, giving a clear message to those who commit these kinds of crimes that street crime will not be tolerated."

The court was told Heath threatened staff at Barclays Bank on Grange Road West by suggesting in a note to the cashiers that he was armed.

Street crime has become a government target

He then produced what appeared to be a handgun and took a quantity of cash.

But a security device in the money stained him and the cash with red dye and led to his arrest.

Judge Holloway sentenced Heath to seven years in prison and said the courts had a duty to protect people working with money.

Outside court, Detective Inspector Mike Parkinson said: "This clearly demonstrates Merseyside Police's commitment to the detection and reduction of street crime on Merseyside.

"We will leave no stone unturned in seeking to eradicate the problem of street crime and taking the strongest action against those who commit serious offences of robbery."