A CAR-THIEF who murdered a Manchester United fan by deliberately running him down as he stole his car has failed in an Appeal Court bid to overturn his conviction.

Glynn Ellis, 46, of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, died when he was struck by his own car after 19-year-old Paul Branchflower leapt behind the wheel and drove off as the vehicle was parked outside a garage in Salford Quays, Manchester, with its engine running.

Mr Ellis, who had been to watch his team beat Hungarian Zalaegerszegi 5-0 at Old Trafford, left his car at his brother's garage on August 27, 2002, and had driven it out of the garage when Branchflower struck.

Branchflower was detained for life in February last year after a jury convicted him of murdering Mr Ellis.

Branchflower, of Salford, was also sentenced for aggravated vehicle taking.

Lord Justice Kennedy said the jury's verdict showed Branchflower deliberately drove at his victim with intent to kill or cause serious harm. The court heard Mr Ellis was knocked down by the car's initial impact and was then jammed beneath the vehicle.

The judge, sitting with Mr Justice Astill and Mr Justice Gross, said Branchflower told police that after hitting Mr Ellis he was unable to shift the car as its engine stalled. He told officers he was very sorry for Mr Ellis' death, which he described as a tragic accident.

Branchflower sought yesterday permission to challenge the jury's verdict, but Lord Justice Kennedy said his grounds of appeal were "unarguable".