A BARNSLEY burglar who burgled a 77-year-old woman has had his jail term almost halved.
Adam Winter and an unknown accomplice broke into the pensioner's home while she was asleep in bed and stole valuables from her handbag.
Winter, 20, of Brookfield Terrace, Carlton, was jailed for three years at Sheffield Crown Court in August, after admitting burglary.
However, judges last week cut that to one year and eight months at London's Criminal Appeal Court, who said the original term was 'excessive'.
The court heard the victim's home, in Totley Close, Barnsley, was broken into in June and her purse, cash, bank cards and mobile phone were stolen from inside her handbag.
She was sleeping when the burglary took place and discovered her things were missing when she woke the next day.
Mr Justice Holroyde told the court the victim suffered great distress as a result of the break-in.
Winter's fingerprints were found at the scene, but he had confessed his guilt even before they were analysed and found to be a match.
He told police he and an accomplice, who was not caught, had broken into the house, with him holding open a window while his partner in crime sneaked inside and took the items.
The court heard Winter had two previous cautions for burglary and shoplifting, and convictions for handling stolen goods and possessing cannabis, but had never before been locked up.
Winter's lawyers argued his jail term was over the top, saying the crown court judge didn't take enough account of his youth, or give him enough credit for his early admission of guilt.
Mr Justice Holroyde, sitting with Lord Justice Jackson and Judge John Milford QC, said given it was his first taste of custody and he admitted his crime at the first opportunity, the sentence was 'too long'.
He added: "The conclusion we have reached, taking account of all the circumstances and having regard to the fact that this is the first custodial sentence upon a young offender, is that an appropriate sentence would have been 20 months."
