A CONVICTED drug dealer from Christchurch said to be dying from a serious liver condition has failed in his appeal to be freed from his prison sentence.

In September 2006 George Clarke, 54, was jailed for nine and half years for his part in one of the biggest ever drug operations in Dorset.

At the trial in Bournemouth Crown Court, Clarke was said to have been a major player in the drugs ring which was broken following a major undercover operation by police leading to the seizure of cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis worth more than £350,000.

Clarke, whose address was given as The Grove in Jumpers, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply drugs and the court heard that he was the broker for making contacts with dealers abroad and importing drugs.

His defence said at the time that prison would have a worse effect on Clarke than his co-accused because he had a serious liver condition and needed a transplant.

And on Friday lawyers for Clarke told the Criminal Appeal Court in London he was so ill that he could die before completing his sentence and urged the judges to free him from jail in light of his life-threatening liver condition.

Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with Mr Justice Grigson and Mr Justice King, heard that Clarke may have to undergo an emergency liver transplant soon and that one doctor put his life expectancy at less than two years.

If this were the case, he would end his days behind bars, said his lawyers.

But Mr Justice Grigson, giving the judgement of the court, said that he was not prepared to free Clarke as an act of mercy.

He said: "In this case the prognosis, while bleak, is still in fact uncertain and the sentencing judge made some allowance for the appellant's state of health.

"The only course the court could take in this case would be to pass such a sentence as would effect his immediate release.

"In the judgement of this court it would be inappropriate and wrong in principle for this court to make such a significant reduction to what was a perfectly proper sentence."

The judge said Clarke's hopes for an early release lay with the Minister for Justice who would monitor his condition and "take the appropriate action at the appropriate time."