A former Banbury shopkeeper has lost his appeal against a ten-and-a-half year jail sentence for drug offences.

Mark Cookson, 34, who ran the Black Rose shop in Church Lane, was told by judges at London's criminal appeal court that he would have to serve the full sentence imposed at Leicester Crown Court in July last year.

Five other men involved with Cookson in what was described as a 'sophisticated' Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire-based drugs ring, won reductions to their jail terms.

The appeal court refused to reduce the sentence of Cookson -- formerly of Bulls Lane, Kings Sutton -- who received the longest term and was said to be the most heavily involved in the crimes.

The original charges included conspiracies to produce cannabis, to supply ecstasy, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine, to evade the duty payable on importing cigarettes, and the illegal possession of a firearm.

Cookson was involved in all offences and was jailed for ten-and-a-half years -- a term which appeal judge Mr Justice Curtis, sitting with Lord Justice Gage and Mrs Justice Cox, refused to reduce.

The court heard that part of Cookson's business empire involved importing furniture to premises on a Banbury industrial estate which was used as a cover for some of the offences.

Cookson's other offences included involvement in ecstasy and cocaine supplies to undercover officers, 150,000 cigarettes smuggled in from Bali, and possession of an illegal firearm. which was found at his home. The court was also told that the cellar of the Rendezvous Cafe in Daventry was installed with equipment for growing cannabis. This proved so successful that Cookson acquired leases for premises in Banbury and Croughton for the same purpose .

Mr Justice Curtis said: "Cookson was the driving force in the conspiracies involving two class A and two class B drugs, and his degree of criminal responsibility overall was clearly shown to be high."

Andrew Sean Richardson, 38, of Waynefleet Avenue, Brackley, had a seven-and-a-half year sentence cut to six-and-a-half years.

The judge said he had a 'middle degree of responsibility' having provided a safe house and being involved in the two class A matters and one class B.

Alan Edward Rayson, 31, of Place Road, Crouch End - but who had lived at Cookson's address where the gun was found - had four-and-a-half years reduced to three-and-a-half years.

Three Daventry men involved in the 'drugs ring' also their sentences reduced.