‘Crushing’ term cut

Wellington: A man who was running a methamphetamine supply ring from inside Manawatu prison has had his sentence reduced by the Court of Appeal.

Brian Taylor was already serving 16 years for various convictions, including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, when he began operating the ring.

Police found he had supplied more than 100g of the drug.

His sentence of five and ahalf years was added to the earlier sentence, taking his total jail time to more than 21 years.

In a judgement released yesterday, the Court of Appeal said that was a crushing sentence that left Taylor no hope of being reintegrated into society.

It substituted a sentence of four years and one month, to be served on top of the earlier sentence. — RNZ