AN IT wizard locked up for mugging a pensioner when aged just 13 has failed to convince top judges to lift his “virtual life sentence”.

Jondale Grimshaw, now aged 22, was ordered to be detained indefinitely for public protection at Bolton Crown Court in June 2008 after trying to rob a 67-year-old woman.

At the time Grimshaw was running wild around Bolton with other youths, London’s Appeal Court heard.

Despite his tender years, he had a record of street robberies and other crimes and “showed no remorse at the time”, said Mrs Justice Andrews.

He was handed an indefinite sentence, reserved for dangerous offenders, because his behaviour was said to be getting worse.

He was becoming increasingly violent and “the authorities just could not cope with him”, the judge said.

Grimshaw was released on licence in 2015, but he can be recalled to custody at any time if he breaches its conditions or the authorities believe he may re-offend.

He was described as brilliant at IT and exceptionally bright — having amassed a total 14 GCSEs during his time behind bars.

But at the Appeal Court in London Mrs Justice Andrews refused to overturn his sentence saying the approach by the original judge, putting public safety first, had been “impeccable”.

She said the judge had “balanced his rights as a child and the rights of the public to be safe from him.”

“He thought that the public must come first.”

“Despite Grimshaw’s tender age he had already accrued a formidable record of previous convictions.”

And the appeal judge ruled: “We conclude that this application should be dismissed.”

After the hearing, Grimshaw’s barrister labelled his punishment a “virtual life sentence”.