A SIDMOUTH man wanted in connection with five armed robberies in Devon has been jailed in America for attempting to buy a gun with a fake ID. Stephen Jackley, 22, whose family home is in Manstone Avenue, appeared before a US district court in Rutland, Ver

A SIDMOUTH man wanted in connection with five armed robberies in Devon has been jailed in America for attempting to buy a gun with a fake ID.

Stephen Jackley, 22, whose family home is in Manstone Avenue, appeared before a US district court in Rutland, Vermont on Wednesday, October 29.

He was sent to prison for 10 months after he admitted trying to buy the firearm from a gun store in Vermont in May for a £100 bet.

Jackley, who neighbours described as "a very quiet lad", is wanted by UK police in connection with a string of offences including four armed robberies in Exeter and one in Seaton.

South Worcestershire Police want to speak to him in connection with a bank robbery in Herefordshire as well as three armed robberies and two burglaries in Worcestershire between January 2007 and March 2008.

He is also wanted by police in the Netherlands in relation to similar offences.

DC Alex Bingham, of Exeter CID, said: "We are working in conjunction with Worcester Police, who is leading the investigation, but we have to wait until he serves his sentence in America before we can deal with him."

The force is in talks over the possible extradition of Jackley once he has served his sentence in the US.

DC Bingham added: "We are not sure how we will be transported back to the UK, whether it will be through deportation or extradition.

"We have all our witnesses in place and we expect a trial to be held at Worcester Crown Court."

Jackley, a first year student on an undergraduate modular scheme at the University of Worcester, was arrested on May 19 in America after he fled Parro's Gun Shop in a car, which he then crashed into another vehicle.

Following his arrest, South Worcestershire Police searched his room at Henwick Road halls of residence and found a suspicious package.

Police evacuated students and a nearby office block for over five hours while the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit was called in to deal with the situation.

The campus was re-opened when it was clear the package was not dangerous.