A MAN who tried to rape a woman in a terrifying dawn beach attack has won a cut in his jail sentence.

Top judges at London's Court of Appeal ruled the 12-year jail term imposed on 30-year-old Lee Walters was "manifestly excessive" and reduced it to ten-and-a-half years.

Walters, of Green Lane, Hayward, Manchester, was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court in February last year after pleading guilty to attempted rape. His name was placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

His quarry was photographing the sunrise on a beach at Whitley Bay in July last year when her ordeal began, the court heard.

Walters, who has a previous sex conviction, had spent the night partying at a friend's stag-night celebrations when he spotted the woman, the court was told.

Fuelled by drink and small quantities of amphetimine and cocaine he pounced on her after she told him to leave her alone and tried to rape her, the court heard.

The terrified woman bravely fought him off and a witness gave enough information to lead police to the hotel where Walters was staying.

Allowing the appeal, Judge Peter Beaumont, QC, sitting with Mr Justice Colman, accepted arguments that the Crown Court judge had taken too high a "starting point" when passing sentence and that 12 years was "manifestly excessive".