A DRUNKEN warehouseman jailed for gouging the eye of innocent stranger - causing him to lose half his sight - has been granted a cut in his sentence by Appeal Court judges.

Gary Keith Skinner, 44, attacked building surveyor Jeremy Ross - sticking his finger into the right eye of his victim causing his iris to rupture and retina to detach.

Skinner, of Swan Drive, Droitwich, was jailed for four years at Worcester Crown Court in June this year after pleading guilty to unlawful wounding.

But today London's Criminal Appeal Court ruled the sentence "manifestly excessive" - slashing it to three years and three months - after taking into account the guilty plea and precedent cases.

Mr Justice Ouseley, sitting with Mr Justice Elias, said: "The finger gouging showed a very high degree of recklessness.

"However Skinner has shown remorse and the sentence needs to show the proper reflection of the guilty plea."

Skinner had been drinking in the Pillar of Salt public house in Droitwich in March this year. His stepson threw a beer mat at him but it accidentally hit Mr Ross, who was having a drink with his wife. Mr Ross ignored the incident, said Mr Justice Ouseley, but Skinner became aggressive towards him, insulting him and challenging him to "step outside".

The judge added: "As Mr Ross left the pub, Skinner lunged at him and knocked him to the floor. Skinner put his finger in the right eye and gouged it out."

Mr Justice Ouseley said the attack had a "severe impact" on Mr Ross who was "an innocent stranger enjoying a drink". Mr Ross lost the sight in his right eye, leading to him losing his job as a building surveyor, but the appeal judge ruled: "We consider the sentence of four years was manifestly excessive and should be reduced."