One of the ringleaders of the Hatton Garden jewellery raid gang has failed to win a cut in his jail sentence.

Brian Reader, of Dartford, was jailed for six years and three months in March for his role in the £14m break-in.

Two London Court of Appeal judges were today urged to show "mercy" to the 77-year-old and reduce his sentence.

It came, the court heard, after a "dramatic" deterioration in his health.

But Mr Justice Flaux and Mr Justice Edis rejected Reader's application for permission to appeal against his sentence.

Mr Justice Flaux said: "The sentence passed was not in any sense manifestly excessive."

Reader, of Dartford Road, had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.

The Hatton Garden gang carried out the heist over the Easter weekend last year.

They ransacked 73 boxes at Hatton Garden Safe Deposit after using a huge drill to bore a hole into the wall of the vault.

Valuables including gold, diamonds and sapphires, were taken., but most has never been recovered.