A prisoner who persuaded his solicitor to smuggle a syringe loaded with heroin into court cells has failed to get a cut in his jail term.

William John Steele's barrister had argued that he should have received much less time than the solicitor, who was involved in the "most appalling abuse of trust".

Steele, 32, of Old Shoreham Road, Hove, was jailed for two years nine months at Croydon Crown Court in April after pleading guilty to conspiring to supply heroin.

He was jailed for an extra nine months for absconding during a previous trial on the same charge.

His solicitor, Martin Edward Moore, 46, of Emerald Quay, Shoreham, was jailed for three years nine months on the conspiracy charge.

The Appeal Court in London yesterday refused to cut Steele's conspiracy term, concluding the 12-month difference between the two men's terms "amply reflected the difference in their culpability."

Mr Justice Gage, sitting with Mr Justice Poole, said that in May 1999 Steele had been on remand in Lewes Prison for unrelated matters.

Transcripts of recorded phone calls revealed the plot to supply heroin to Steele.

On June 9, 1999, Steele was due to appear before magistrates at Haywards Heath.

Moore was stopped as he was going into the court's cells. The solicitor had a syringe, wrapped in silver foil, containing heroin for Steele.

Arguing that Steele's conspiracy term should be cut, his barrister William Saunders said a greater distinction than the 12 months should have been made.

He said: "Mr Moore was engaged in what was obviously a most despicable form of conduct and most appalling abuse of trust."

While Steele had been asking for heroin, the barrister said Mr Moore could have simply said no.

He added: "Yet for his own reasons, he went ahead with this and it is for that reason there should be a great distinction between them.

"He was in the position of trust and he could have said no."

But Mr Justice Gage rejected the argument.