27 Jul 2012

Prisoner's drug-supply sentence reduced

3:45 pm on 27 July 2012

A serial offender has had his sentence for conspiring to supply methamphetamine from prison reduced by a year and a half.

Arthur Taylor was found guilty of using a smuggled cellphone to arrange the sale of more than 85 grams of the drug, worth $36,000, while he was an inmate of Paremoremo prison.

He was sentenced to seven years' jail last year.

But the Court of Appeal has found the sentence was excessive because the judge's starting sentencing point was too high, and it has cut the term from seven years to five and a half.

Taylor also tried to appeal against his conviction, but that was denied.

He is serving an existing term of 12 years in jail for other offences.