A MAN who was jailed for 14 years for his part in a multi-million pound drugs scam has had his sentenced reduced at the Court of Appeal.

Christian Wolfendale (36), of Cross Lane, Radcliffe, had admitted two offences of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and his jail term was cut to 12 years on the grounds that insufficient credit was given for his guilty plea and relatively minor role in the operation.

Gerald McLeish (45), from Heywood, described as a bullion merchant who became a leading light in the operation which flooded the north west with amphetamine and crack cocaine, also succeeded in reducing his sentence.

But at the London Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Poole dismissed McLeish's conviction challenge, saying he was the managing director in the £26million conspiracy.

But he reduced his 24-year jail term by two years.

The judge, sitting with Lord Justice Rix and Judge Fabyan Evans QC, heard that McLeish was jailed at Bolton Crown Court in April last year after a jury convicted him of conspiring to supply drugs. Six others were also charged and sentenced for their roles in the plot.

McLeish and the rest of the gang were prosecuted following a police surveillance operation in April 2001, culminating in a raid on a unit at Bealey industrial estate in Radcliffe which netted a massive assortment of cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis.