A MAN who sexually assaulted a young girl has had his jail term cut by Appeal Court judges.

Stephen Leonard Edworthy, 63, "ruined the life" of his victim by, subjecting her to sex attacks when she was aged just six.

Mr Edworthy, of New Church Street, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, was jailed for 14 years in December 2015.

He had earlier been convicted of multiple indecent assaults and sexual assaults at Gloucester Crown Court.

But yesterday Mr Justice Garnham, at London Criminal Appeal Court, reduced his sentence to 12 years.

The judge, sitting with Mr Justice Jay and Sir Brian Leveson, heard that the victim kept the horror of what had happened to her as a child secret for many years.

When she was in her 20s, she bravely went to the police, leading to Mr Edworthy's arrest.

What Mr Edworthy - a diagnosed schizophrenic - had done to her had "crippled her and ruined her life," the judge said.

He added that there was "a degree of violence in the commission of the offences."

However the judge went on to cut the sentence, after hearing lawyers argue that Edworthy was treated too harshly.

Mr Justice Garnham concluded: "The total sentence was manifestly excessive and we reduce that total from 14 years to 12 years."