FORMER North Yorkshire coroner Jeremy Cave has suffered a setback in his bid to get his jail term for fraud reduced.

The 53-year-old disgraced ex-solicitor from Sowerby near Thirsk is serving three-and-a-half years in prison for six offences of stealing from the estates of deceased people.

He asked for leave to appeal against his sentence to the Court of Appeal, but a High Court judge has rejected his application.

After his conviction, Cave resigned as coroner for the western district of North Yorkshire which includes Selby, Easingwold, Thirsk and Harrogate.

Updated: 10:35 Thursday, July 03, 2003