A TEENAGER — said by police to be part of a gang of supposed untouchables in Burnley — is facing jail after being convicted of robbing a student in a subway.

Eighteen-year-old Sheikh Juned was part of a duo which stamped on the head of Burnley College youngster Michael Conway and kicked him as he walked underneath the M65 at Gannow Top, the town’s Crown Court was told.

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Mr Conway had his mobile phone, wallet, passport and bank cards taken during the attack which stopped when two passers-by intervened. Roger Brown, prosecuting, said Mr Conway appeared to be severely beaten and confused, and medical attention was sought for him immediately.

Meanwhile, Juned made two attempts to sell on the student’s mobile phone to a friend. But police managed to trace the device, after a new SIM card was inserted by the unwitting customer, and Juned was later arrested. He denied all knowledge of the robbery, even though Mr Conway picked him out twice — via a video identification parade — as one of the culprits.

Juned, of Higher Reedley Road, Reedley, pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery and causing the victim grievous bodily harm but was convicted after a three-day trial.

Police attempted unsuccessfully to impose a criminal behaviour order on Juned after he was convicted of two offences of cannabis dealing, dating back to April and May last year.

He was caught with five snap bags of a cannabis at a house in Gordon Street, Stoneyholme, and was later detained in nearby Burns Street after officers received complaints of drug dealing in back alleys.

Defence solicitor Mark Williams, for Juned, successfully fought the behaviour order, which would have prevented Juned going on to the streets of Stoneyholme.

Juned could be facing custody, for the robbery conviction, when he returns to the Crown Court to be sentenced next month.