Despite the improved behaviour of former HIH Insurance director Rodney Adler while behind bars, he has been unsuccessful in his appeal to have his jail sentence overturned.

The sentence imposed on April 14 last year is four years and six months, with a non-parole period of two years and six months.

Since being caught hiding business papers in his children’s homework late last year, Mr Adler has turned over a new leaf and begun a bachelor of arts degree with a major in philosophy.

He’s also reportedly immersed in a real estate course, a food-handling course and running the prison library. But these actions weren’t enough to reduce his sentence when his case came up before the NSW Court of Appeal last week.

Appeal Justice Sully agreed with the sentencing judge that the offences committed under the Corporations Act were serious and “displayed an appalling lack of commercial morality”.