Former Maple Brown Abbott analyst Michael Ho has received a three-year prison sentence for insider trading related to shares and options in Big Un Ltd, but will serve it in the community after pleading guilty and helping authorities.

The sentence, which will be served by way of an intensive correction order, rather than incarceration, was handed down in the Downing Centre District Court by Judge Michael King, who discounted the penalty because of Ho's confession and the assistance he gave authorities.