A BANNED driver who killed an eight-year-old boy when he lost control of his 1,000cc motorcycle after pulling a "wheelie" has won a one-year cut in his jail term.

Steven Harrison, aged 40, of Hertford Drive, Tyldesley was jailed for six years at Bolton Crown Court in August after pleading guilty to causing the death of Billy Joe Dean by dangerous driving.

He also admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance. He was banned from driving for eight years.

London's Criminal Appeal Court concluded his jail term was "too high" and cut it to five years, after considering sentencing guidelines.

About 7.16pm on August 24 last year, Harrison was riding his Suzuki, having just left a pub in Market Street, Stoneclough.

"According to witnesses, he accelerated quickly and the front wheel of the motorcycle rose off the ground, in what is described as a wheelie," Mr Justice Tugendhat said.

Harrison lost control of the bike, skidding into the opposite carriageway in the path of an oncoming car.

That driver took evasive action which resulted in the bike colliding with the nearside of the car. The bike then mounted the pavement and hit Billy Joe Dean.

Harrison and the bike then collided with a wall. He later said he had no recollection of the incident.

Mr Justice Tugendhat said the offence was aggravated by Harrison's history of bad driving -- in 1987 he drove while disqualified and caused injury, and two other times he drove with excess alcohol. In the present case, he also had been driving at excess speed.