Shropshire Star

Otis Ferry burglar has jail term increased after he tries to appeal

A burglar who targeted the home of pro-hunt campaigner, Otis Ferry, has had the time he must serve behind bars increased by top judges after he asked to appeal his conviction.

Published

Nigel James Harris, 39, twice broke into the Shropshire home of singer Bryan Ferry's son in October and November 2012, stealing an Apple computer, an iPpad and a BlackBerry.

Harris, of Lower Cross, Cross Houses, near Shrewsbury, also stole from a former employer and tried to cover his tracks when the police became involved in the crime against Mr Ferry, who is the joint master of the South Shropshire hunt.

He was jailed for five years at Shrewsbury Crown Court in July last year after being convicted of two burglaries, two counts of theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Yesterday he asked top judges at London's Criminal Appeal Court to grant him permission to appeal against his convictions after criticising his legal representation at trial.

But Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Sweeney and Mr Justice Warby ruled that his complaints were groundless and he was wasting the court's time.

They handed him the equivalent of an extra six-month sentence as punishment for bringing his unarguable appeal to court.

Lady Justice Hallet said: "This is a hopeless case. Despite being warned, he chose to pursue what in our judgment was a totally unmeritorious application, which has wasted the time of the court.

"Such applications hamper the court's ability to process meritorious applications. We make a loss of time served order of three months," the judge concluded.

The loss of time order equates in real terms to an extra six-month sentence being added to his existing imprisonment.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.