AN armed robber who stole a student's mobile telephone at knifepoint has lost an Appeal Court bid to clear his name.

Kirpal Singh Sanghera, 23, of Bursledon Road, Southampton, was jailed for four years at Southampton Crown Court in September 2000 following his conviction for robbery.

He challenged his conviction at London's Criminal Appeal Court, citing fresh evidence which he claimed pointed to his innocence.

But he had his case rejected by Mr Justice Goldring - sitting with Lord Justice Latham and Judge Michael Mettyear.

The judge said Sanghera was said by the prosecution to have held a knife against the neck of his student victim after pressuring him to pay £50 for some drugs.

The young man refused to hand over any cash, but Sanghera finally robbed him of a mobile telephone and £2.70 in cash.

"He did not tell his family as Sanghera threatened to kill him," said Mr Justice Goldring.

Lawyers sought to adduce fresh evidence from witnesses to the incident, but Mr Justice Goldring said that testimony had been available before the trial and Sanghera's then barrister had made a clear decision not to present it.

"In our view it is clear that this was a tactical decision taken by his counsel in the context of the trial he was conducting," said Mr Justice Goldring, dismissing Sanghera's application for leave to appeal.