A MANDATORY life sentence has been imposed on a man who carried out a robbery in 1970.

Derek Park, 51, fell foul of the "two strikes" rule as a result of a stabbing of a man earlier this year.

Durham Crown Court was told it was his second qualifying offence of violence, as the other was a post office robbery committed 34 years ago.

Park, who was convicted of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, was therefore given the mandatory life sentence at Newcastle Crown Court last month, albeit with the recommended tariff that he serves only four years before being considered to parole.

He denied the offence, but was found guilty by a jury after a trial, on September 24.

Proceedings were brought before Durham Crown Court to allow his barrister Nick Peacock the opportunity to argue against the imposition of the mandatory sentence.

Mr Peacock said: "The court is allowed not to impose the two strikes life sentence if it feels the circumstances are exceptional.

"Mr Park's only other qualifying offence is an armed robbery of a post office in November, 1970.

"While it's true he was a persistent offender in his younger days, he has had no convictions of any sort since 1982."

But Judge Guy Whitburn QC ordered that the life sentence should stand.

"There was a degree of pre-meditation in both offences and I'm satisfied that Mr Park is a dangerous man."

Park, of Eppleton Road, Hetton-le-Hole, Wearside, may yet challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, but he must continue serving the sentence in the intervening period.