Sean Donoher is a killer no one could talk about. Today we can finally reveal the truth about his violent past.

Sussex Police imposed a news blackout on how Donoher, 37, of no fixed address, had stabbed a man to death for fear of causing panic as he prowled Brighton and Hove, terrorising shop staff and customers.

The Argus named Donoher as the prime suspect behind a string of armed robberies and published repeated warnings that he was dangerous but, at the same time, adhered to the police request.

At the height of his crime wave, The Argus offered and will be paying a £1,000 reward for information leading to Donoher's arrest and conviction.

The reward and another £1,000 from Sussex Police led to an informant helping detectives trace him.

Only now can Donoher's past be revealed.

The Argus five years ago published accounts of how he had stabbed to death a homeless busker following a row over a piece of cheese.

Donoher, a former Big Issue seller, was convicted in 1997 of the manslaughter of 23-year-old Leo Gaskill who was attacked outside a soup kitchen in St Leonards.

Lewes Crown Court heard how the victim had been accused of taking a piece of cheese from the home of one of Donoher's friends.

Mr Gaskill suffered a severed artery and died in an operating theatre at the Conquest Hospital, Hastings.

Donoher's string of previous convictions include pointing a loaded air rifle at a social worker and demanding money in 1983. He was given 18 months youth custody.

In 1987, he was jailed for four-and-a-half years for burglaries.

Donoher had recently been released from prison last year and was on licence when he began one of the longest series of armed robberies Brighton and Hove had seen.

Off-licences and newsagents were his main targets as he combed the city looking for quick cash to feed his heroin and crack cocaine habits.

Donoher, who put knives to the throats of victims and forced them to the ground, was linked to nine hold-ups, from November last year to January:

November 23, Thresher in St George's Road, Brighton, December 18; Unwins in Victoria Terrace, Hove; January 6, Mulberry Wines in Bristol Road, Brighton; January 9, Thresher in Dyke Road, Brighton; January 13, Victoria Wines, London Road, Brighton; January 17, Thresher in Queen's Park Road, Brighton; January 20, Unwins in Powis Road, Brighton; January 24, Victoria Wines in Lewes Road, Brighton, and January 26, Thresher in Western Road, Hove.

Thresher area manager John Moore said at the time all victims in his stores had been offered support and counselling.

One victim, still frightened of Donoher and not wanting to be identified, said today: "I was scared for my life and it took me a long time to get over it.

"Even when I plucked up courage to return to work I looked at every customer as they walked in and wondered if it would be that man. I'm just so relieved he is now firmly behind bars."

Police were so concerned Donoher would resort to violence they launched extra patrols as they tried to anticipate where he would strike next. They were never lucky and it was not until police and The Argus offered rewards that the breakthrough happened.

Operation Typhoon was led by former Sussex Detective Sergeant Paul Fullwood. He said: "We are very grateful to The Argus for joining our efforts in capturing Donoher."