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The kingpin of a “drugs empire” has had his 14-year jail term slashed by top judges.

Michael Andrew Martin was jailed at Cardiff Crown Court on July 8 last year after a two-year police investigation smashed a drugs ring and saw officers seize nearly 300kg of drugs as well as £1.2m in cash.

The 51-year-old – who police said “utilised his underworld contacts across the UK to form a drug empire” – admitted conspiracy to supply amphetamine and cannabis resin, Mr Justice King told London’s Appeal Court on Tuesday.

Martin, of Heolddu Crescent, Bargoed , was involved in the “large-scale distribution” of Class B drugs in south Wales and had a “web” of right-hand men and lieutenants.

More than 37kg of dry amphetamine was recovered by police and a delivery of 179 kilos of cannabis resin was intercepted during the investigation, the court heard.

At the time of Martin’s conviction a South Wales Police spokesman also revealed how £1.2m in cash – along with a sawn-off shotgun, shotgun cartridges, and a stun gun – was found at a house in Ystrad , Rhondda , during the investigation.

Martin had been jailed for nine years in 2006 for conspiracy to supply amphetamine, the court heard.

But his lawyers argued his punishment for his latest crimes was far too tough.

Mr Justice King, who was sitting with Lord Justice Davis and Mrs Justice Andrews, agreed.

Despite the “seriousness” of the conspiracies and the significant previous conviction, a jail term of 14 years was “too high”.

“The final sentence as a total should have been one of 11 years,” the appeal judge ruled.