A 54-YEAR-OLD man with a history of alcohol problems yesterday won a cut in his jail term for indecently assaulting two young girls.

David Paul Vetters, of Coggan Close, South Bank, York, was jailed for five years at York Crown Court last August after earlier pleading guilty to three counts of indecent assault on each girl.

Mr Justice Mackay, sitting with Judge Richard Wakerley in London's Criminal Appeal Court, reduced his term to four years.

"It is our judgement that, on a plea of guilty, five years was too long a sentence in this case and places this offence at a point which is too high on the scale of seriousness," said Mr Justice Mackay.

The offences relating to the first girl occurred over a three-year period when she was aged between 11 and 13.

Those against the second girl occurred over a three-month period when she was 12.

"He had a very substantial criminal record but none of his previous convictions were for offences of a sexual nature," said the judge.

Reports referred to his long- term alcohol problems, episodes of depression and attempts at self harm.

"He was also the victim of some physical retribution when the offences came to light," said Mr Justice Mackay. He agreed with the sentencing judge that the abuse was perhaps not the worst case of its kind.