A MAN jailed for "blowing up" telephone boxes on the A64 near Malton with powerful fireworks has failed in an Appeal Court bid to get his four-year jail term reduced.

Geoffrey Layton, 31, of Dufton Approach, Seacroft, Leeds, was jailed at York Crown Court in June last year after he was convicted of conspiracy to damage property.

Lord Justice Laws, sitting with Mr Justice Holman and Mr Justice Goldring at London's Appeal Court, yesterday refused to cut his sentence - dismissing arguments that the term imposed was "manifestly excessive".

The judge said Layton and two accomplices were caught by police after a patrol car spotted their vehicle in a layby on the A64 near Malton, parked next to a damaged telephone box shortly after midnight on November 21, 2002. They were later seen fleeing after sparks went flying from another nearby phone box.

A search of their vehicle revealed more fireworks hidden in the glove-box.

A later examination of the telephone boxes revealed the vandals had caused more than £10,500 of damage to the kiosks.

Layton's lawyers argued his sentence was too high and the trial judge had not taken into account serious "personal problems" he was going through at the time.

But, refusing to cut the term, Lord Justice Laws said: "In our view these were serious offences and such conduct is not without risk to others. Although this was no doubt a severe sentence, we are not satisfied it was manifestly excessive and this appeal is dismissed."

Updated: 09:28 Saturday, May 22, 2004