ARMED robbery victims in the North-East have reacted angrily to the publication of a book in which villains talk about their life of crime.

Many of the 340 robbers interviewed for the controversial book, Commercial Robber, felt people who worked with cash should expect to be held up.

Others even said they believed they were actually doing their victims a favour by giving them something to talk about.

But the publication has been criticised by people who have been robbed, and also by victim support groups.

Postmaster Ronald Bloor, who was held up at gunpoint by two youths in his post office in Scorton, near Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, said: "I didn't expect to be robbed just because I handle money, and it certainly didn't give me something to talk about.

"The youths who robbed me told the court they did it to impress their girlfriends, but they did it for money and no other reason."

Norman Brennan, from the Victims of Crime Trust, said: "I think this book is an insult and I despair at these academics for making cheap comments for financial gain.

"What armed robbery does to its victims is traumatise them to such a degree that some lose their jobs, their self-esteem and turn to tranquillisers to help them cope.

"Their lives are never the same again and I think it is a disgrace that someone is making money out of this."

Commercial Robber, which is priced at £19.95, has been compiled following research by Dr Martin Gill, who works at the University of Leicester.

Dr Gill has spent the past eight years looking into the mind of the armed robber, and found that most robbers completely underestimate the effect their actions have on their victims.

"Some think they have done their victims a favour by giving them something to talk about in an otherwise dull life," he said. "They do not take weapons because they intend to hurt someone but often for their own protection. Consequently they forget that their victims do not know that."