Criminal law – Appeal. The seven defendants had either pleaded guilty or been convicted after trial each for one count of conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of class A. The sentences they received spanned from 9 years and 4 months to 17 years' imprisonment. Each applied for leave to appeal against sentence all generally contended that the sentences passed had too high a starting point and/or were manifestly excessive in the circumstances. All bar one of the defendants, PM, were refused leave to appeal. PM's 15 year sentence was reduced to one of 14 years' imprisonment after it was concluded that insufficient credit had been given for his guilty plea.