London court clerk Munir Patel wins two-year cut in sentence

A court clerk who became the first to be jailed under new bribery laws has won a two-year cut in his sentence.

Munir Patel, 22, was originally sent to prison for six years for taking bribes while working at a court in London.

The Court of Appeal ruled the sentence imposed on Patel, of Green Lane Dagenham in November, was "excessive".

Patel, who worked at Redbridge Magistrates' Court, was of previous good character and had pleaded guilty, the court heard.

He became the first person convicted under the Bribery Act 2010 and was originally sentenced to three years for bribery and six years for misconduct in a public office, to run concurrently.

During the original hearing, Southwark Crown Court was told Patel took £500 to avoid putting details of a traffic summons on a court database.

He admitted one count of bribery.