A MERCIFUL judge at Worcester Crown Court reduced a jail sentence on a father-of-four so that he could keep his home.

Vincent Walmsley was originally sent to prison for nine months for an attack on a woman in a Kiddermin-ster nightclub.

But two hours later, the case was called back into court when defence barrister Nigel Stelling emphasised that Walmsley had taken several years to obtain a house and would lose it if he were absent for more than three months.

Judge David McEvoy QC said he had reconsidered the sentence and would reduce it to six months, which meant that Walmsley would be freed after serving half.

Walmsley, who burst into tears when the first sentence was announced, left the dock with a word of thanks to the kind judge.

The 36-year-old from Dowles Road, Foley Park, Kidderminster, was convicted after a two-day trial in March of assaulting Mary Mason, causing her actual bodily harm.

He was said to have punched her three times in the face, knocking out a front tooth as well as cutting her eyebrow and causing a swollen lip.

The court heard Walmsley had made insulting remarks about Miss Mason's mother in the Mirage nightclub. When she raised her hand to remonstrate, he repeated the remarks and struck her.

Mr Stelling claimed that an eyewitness, who did not attend the trial, made a statement to the effect that Miss Mason struck the first blow. Walmsley bitterly regretted causing the injuries and it was a case of over-reaction due to momentary loss of control.

Although he had a substantial criminal record, his last offence for violence was an affray in 1994.

Walmsley had experienced a bad start in life but now had an offer of a job.

The judge said Walmsley had provoked, insulted and hum-iliated Miss Mason. But he had been impressed by letters from Walm-sley's children and from his prospective employer and so changed the sentence.