Disgraced former Christian Heritage Party leader Graham Capill has abandoned his appeal against his nine-year sentence for the sexual violation of three young girls.

Capill's lawyer Jonathan Eaton said formal notification was filed yesterday afternoon. He added: "I don't want to be specific about it but there is a whole range of things, including the impact it would have on his family and on the victims."

Capill is serving his sentence at Christchurch's Rolleston Prison after pleading guilty in July to multiple sexual offences against three young girls, aged between 5 and 11.