24 May 2012 Last updated at 07:03 ET

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

Munir Yakub Patel was filmed by a newspaper taking the bribe

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 sums of up to £500 to help more than 50 offenders avoid prosecution relating to driving offences

He admitted one count of bribery.

Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, sitting with two other judges, said: "In our judgment, the appropriate sentence for this criminal activity remains a substantial sentence, but the sentence should be reduced from six to four years."