A GARDENER who threatened a mother and son with a knife before tying them up failed to get his convictions quashed.

Eamonn Liam Heffernan, of Saxon Place, Horton Kirby, was jailed for 11 years after he forced his way into a house in Erith and demanded money.

London's Criminal Appeal Court refused to grant permission for the 42-year-old to challenge his conviction.

His barrister James Sutherland claimed a previous burglary conviction revealed to the jury in the trial was used to "bolster" a weak crown case.

He said Heffernan's previous conviction was eight years old and the way this burglary was carried out was completely different to the Erith crime.

Lord Justice Gage concluded the trial judge made no error in law.

Heffernan forced his way into Joan Stone's home in August 2004 with another man after pushing her 15-year-old son to the floor when he answered the door.

They threatened the pair with a 10-inch knife before tying them up.

Mrs Stone's 13-year-old daughter escaped and called her father, who arrived with two colleagues.

The intruders fled, slashing one of Mr Stone's colleagues in the face as they made their escape.

Heffernan was found guilty of aggravated burglary, two counts of false imprisonment and unlawful wounding last September.