A PATHOLOGICAL gambler who wrote dud cheques for computer equipment, which he then sold off to pay debts, won a reduction in his jail term yesterday.

John Wendell Stout, 38, of North Bitchburn Terrace, Crook, County Durham, was jailed for three years at Teesside Crown Court in February.

He pleaded guilty to eight counts of obtaining property by deception and two counts of attempting to obtain property by deception. He asked the court to take 13 similar offences into account.

But London's Criminal Appeal Court decided the term was excessive and cut it to two years.

Mr Justice Bell, sitting with Mr Justice Nelson, noted Stout's guilty plea, the fact no breach of trust was involved and the victim was not particularly vulnerable.

The offences occurred between mid-2002 and early last year and involved Stout ordering Dell computers over the Internet and by phone.

At the time in question, the company did not wait for cheques to clear before orders were delivered.

"He took advantage of the system by ordering a large amount of computer equipment, drawing cheques on two bank accounts which had no funds," said Mr Justice Bell.

He used five different addresses - two where he lived and three others which he knew were empty and where he had mail redirected from.

On some occasions, the computers were delivered, but sometimes if the cheque bounced before delivery, the orders were cancelled.

The value of the offences was £173,000 - made up of £45,000 worth of goods obtained and £128,000 worth ordered but not delivered.

When arrested, Stout admitted the offences saying he was addicted to gambling and had sold the computers at £400 or £500 a time to pay debts.

A report described him as being a pathological gambler - a psychiatric disorder.