Drug-driver's jail term slashed

A drug-affected Sydney driver whose unborn child died when he crashed his car, today won a nine-month cut in his minimum jail term.

Danny Rosenthal, 25, was found guilty in December 2006 of driving under the influence of ecstasy, occasioning grievous bodily harm to his heavily pregnant girlfriend, Kelly Porter.

Their unborn child was killed in the accident which occurred in March 2005 at Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains, where they had driven from their home in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Rosenthal, who was a disqualified driver on bail for other offences at the time of the crash, was jailed for three-and-a-half years with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half years.

But NSW's Court of Criminal Appeal today cut his total sentence to three years and his minimum term to one year nine months.

While describing the offence as serious "with dreadful consequences", Justice Peter Hidden said it also was a "sad and unusual case".