A MAN acquitted of carrying out a knife-point robbery has spoken of his eight months of hell and said: "It's ruined my life."

Murad Hussain Ugradar, who has worked for charity and never been in trouble with the police in his life, is considering legal action for wrongful prosecution.

The 21-year-old, of Balaclava Street, Blackburn, said his life had been turned "upside down" after he was accused of attacking a teenager in Blackburn town centre.

After a jury at Preston Crown Court found Mr Ugradar not guilty, mosque president Musa Patel said he had always been confident of Mr Ugradar's innocence.

During a two-day trial it was alleged he carried out a knife-point robbery outside Morrisons, High Street, on January 27.

Mr Ugradar was charged with robbery after a 14-year-old boy claimed he had been threatened with a Stanley knife and had his mobile phone stolen.

The former factory worker, who said he was only charged because he had been in the town centre at the time and matched a witnesses's description of the robber, lost his job as a result of the court case.

He said he had been unable to find another job since working at MDA, a packing and promotions company in Victoria Street, Mill Hill, because of the allegations.

Mr Ugradar, who lives with his parents, two brothers and his sister, said: "My reputation is in tatters, people who would normally stop to speak to me in the street wouldn't because they thought I was guilty.

"It's ruined my life, people don't look at me the same anymore.

"I wouldn't want anyone else to have to go through what I have had to go through because the police have been lazy by not doing their investigation properly.

"I am going to discuss the possibility of taking legal action against the police.

"They have wasted tax payers' money, cost me my reputation, my job and my mum's health has suffered through all the stress."

Musa Patel, president of M.A Mission mosque, Wellington Street, Blackburn, said: "Some people naturally cast doubt on a person when people are accused of things like this.

"In our community offences like this are looked upon very badly.

"He is not a bad lad, he spent his own time collecting hundreds of pounds door-to-door for the victims of the Pakistani earthquake.

"He comes to mosque every week.

"His father is a good man, he does some confessional work here at the mosque with me. I have always supported him and I'm relived that justice has been served so he can get on with his life in peace."

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said they were unable to comment on the court case but said: "If Mr Ugradar would like to make an official complaint, which he can do through the Independent Police Complaints Commission, that will be investigated in full. "