A former Auckland funeral director is citing her celebrity inmate status, as a factor in her sentence appeal

Fiona Bakulich was sentenced in April to two years and three months jail, after admitting swindling clients and mishandling human remains.

She had previously featured in TV show, The Casketeers.

Her lawyer's today argued in the High Court at Auckland the sentence is manifestly excessive.

Susan Gray says her client's been in voluntary segregation because of threats from other prisoners who recognised her.

She says Bakulich has been subject to vitriolic hate speech, with a disproportionately severe experience in jail.