Thug jailed after robbery of former Bolton mayor Noel Spencer

Muhammad Tehseen, spotted Noel Spencer, who served as a councillor for almost 50 years, in a Bolton town centre bank.

Despite the veteran politician’s attempts to shake him off, 31-year-old Tehseen followed him through the town centre and as he boarded a bus back to his Farnworth home.

As the pensioner tried to shut his front door, Tehseen barged his way into the property and dragged him into a bedroom where he viciously attacked him before stealing his wallet.

Tehseen, who has no previous convictions, was identified after Mr Spencer’s son obtained CCTV footage of the robber using his dad’s bank card in a shop and posted it on social media.

At Bolton Crown Court Tehseen was jailed for five years and three months.

Muhammad Tehseen

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh told him: “This was the targeting of a vulnerable victim who was pursued for a protracted period of time to his home address and actual physical violence was used against him.”

Andrew MacKintosh, prosecuting, told how, on the morning of February 7, Mr Spencer caught a bus to Bolton town centre in order to pay a cheque into the Royal Bank of Scotland on Deansgate.

“When he entered the bank he noticed the defendant stood a few yards from the entrance,” said Mr MacKintosh.

Tehseen followed Mr Spencer as he used a cash machine and to the counter, where he deposited the cheque.

“Throughout this time the defendant was speaking to Mr Spencer but Mr Spencer couldn’t understand what was being said,” said Mr MacKintosh.

In a bid to get rid of Tehseen, Mr Spencer went to Poundland, but as he left the shop, Tehseen shoved his hand into the pensioner’s bag and took a can, which had just been bought.

Next, Mr Spencer headed into the Morrison’s supermarket to try, unsuccessfully, to shake off the man following him.

And when the ex-mayor, who was made an honorary alderman four years ago, boarded a bus home, Tehseen also got on and sat immediately behind him but said nothing and got off at the same stop.

“As Mr Spencer opened his front door the defendant, who had been stood next to him, shoved Mr Spencer inside,” said Mr MacKintosh.

Mayor and Mayoress Noel and Alice Spencer in 2011 (Image: Bolton Council)

Mr Spencer was pushed through the living room and into the bedroom where he was punched in the back several times and kicked, causing him to fall from the bed onto the floor.

The pensioner bravely clung onto his wallet as Tehseen tried to yank it from his overcoat pocket.

"He resisted, taking hold of both of the defendant's wrists, but the defendant managed to get hold of the wallet and the turned and strolled out," said Mr MacKintosh.

The former councillor later told police: "I feel I should have maybe tried, if I had passed a policeman or something, maybe asked for help. I just didn't believe he would get on the bus."

Mr Spencer's bank told him that, 15 minutes after the attack, his cards had been used at Cawdor News, Farnworth, to try and buy goods worth £48 and the pensioner's son managed to obtain CCTV footage from the store.

"He posted that footage on WhatsApp and received number of messages from members of the Asian community naming the defendant and giving his address," said Mr MacKintosh.

A week later, Tehseen, of Cecilia Street, Bolton, was arrested in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, where he still had Mr Spencer's wallet on him as well as some cannabis.

Tehseen eventually pleaded guilty to robbery, fraud and possessing cannabis and appeared in court for sentence via video link from Forest Bank prison.

The court heard that he had refused to speak to a psychiatrist to assess his mental state after concerns were raised about him.

Shirlie Duckworth, defending, said: "There is an absence of any evidence to explain that there is anything in this defendant's psychiatric history to explain why he, at the age of 31, would suddenly commit such a serious offence."

Tehseen, a father-of-two, has previously worked as a taxi driver.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Spencer said that he was "relieved" about the sentence and pleased his attacker will not be able to commit a similar offence against anyone else.

"It could have been longer but 63 months is still a lengthy period of time," he said.

The elderly former councillor, who devoted his adult life to helping others, is still suffering from back pain as a result of the robbery and says he is now more cautious.

"I still go out and do a bit of shopping every day but it has certainly made me more wary," he added.