A university student who robbed a terrified salesman of his car at knifepoint failed to get his sentence reduced on appeal.

Farhan Saif, 21, of Miersfield, High Wycombe, was sentenced last May to six years in a young offenders' institution.

Saif posed as a customer during a test drive and he and an accomplice stole the £6,000 Honda Prelude from Faisal Rana after holding a knife to his throat. Saif was found guilty of robbery but acquitted of false imprisonment.

London's Criminal Appeal Court refused to grant him permission to challenge his sentence, saying although it was severe it was not "manifestly excessive".

At the original court case the sentencing judge was satisfied that Saif was the organiser of the robbery, which he said was an "extremely serious" planned robbery, as knives were taken along, there was a getaway car and the victim was left "absolutely horrified."

The robbery happened on August 1, 2001, when Saif had telephoned about a Honda which had been advertised in a newspaper. Two days later he and his accomplice met Mr Rana for a test drive.

As the salesman drove, Saif's accomplice pressed a knife against his neck, telling him to pull over. Saif took over the driving and soon after Mr Rana was ordered out of the car.

The accomplice also got out and got into a waiting car.

Saif was stopped on August 22, 2001, when police identified the stolen car, and Mr Rana identified Saif in a parade.

Arguing for a reduction in Saif's sentence, barrister Richard Bundle emphasised his client's youth, the fact that he had never been in custody before and that the victim received no physical injury.

Appeal court judge Mr Justice Davis, sitting with Lord Justice Longmore and Mr Justice Sachs, also heard how Saif had to abandon his university studies and cancel his wedding. Saif's father was also ill and he had taken responsibility for mother and siblings.

But Judge Davis said the sad effect on his family of his detention was a consequence of his own criminal conduct.

January 27, 2003 12:00