Judges reject robber's 'absolutely hopeless' appeal for freedom

A ROBBER from Oldham has failed in a bid for freedom after top judges said his conviction appeal was 'absolutely hopeless'.

Akhtar Hussain (27), of Chamber Road, got out of his Vauxhall Astra and asked his victim where he could buy cannabis on June 27 last year. The pedestrian said he did not know, walked away and crossed the road, Mr Justice Fraser told London's Appeal Court.

But Hussain grabbed him from behind, put him in a headlock and pulled him to the ground. He stole cash and bank cards before driving away.

Unfortunately for Hussain, the eagle-eyed victim had noted his registration number.

Hussain was jailed for a total of 40 months on February 16 at Manchester Crown Court.

He admitted robbery and breaching a restraining order and the terms of an earlier suspended sentence.

Despite his guilty plea, he challenged his robbery conviction yesterday, insisting he only admitted the crime "under duress".

Other than on a strictly limited basis, he had 'never wanted to plead guilty'.

But the judge, sitting with Lord Justice McCombe and Judge Peter Collier QC, took just minutes to kick out his "absolutely hopeless" appeal.