A HEROIN addict who carried out a prolonged sex attack on a terrified woman -- beating her with a motorbike exhaust and kicking her with heavy boots -- has won a cut in his sentence.

Jason Peter Walmsley, 34, of Kime Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and engaging his victim in sexual activity against her consent when he appeared at Burnley Crown Court in April 2005.

He was jailed for a total of eight years but that was cut by a year, to seven years, by Appeal Court judge, Mr Justice Penry-Davey, who ruled the original term "manifestly excessive".

The judge, sitting with Mr Justice Poole, said Walmsley attacked the woman in October last year after he asked her about her past relationships.

He lost his temper and lashed out at the woman and began punching her, before ordering her to strip and hitting her with part of a motorcycle exhaust.

Under pressure, the woman then agreed to abuse herself with the piece of metal after he ordered her to do so.

The attack continued as the victim was kicked by Walmsley who was wearing heavy boots.

Mr Justice Penry-Davey said: "It was only her profuse bleeding that brought an end to the assault." The woman suffered extensive cuts and gouges to her body and the judge added: "The sentencing judge described the attack as prolific and prolonged".

Walmsley's counsel, Tim Storrie, said his guilty plea had saved the victim from the ordeal of testifying in court.

And Mr Justice Penry-Davey ruled: "The only question is whether the sentence reflected the offence and the mitigation, which included the guilty plea.

"We have come to the conclusion that, even bearing in mind the seriousness and violent nature of the offence, the overall sentence was too long."

Walmsley had been originally handed a sentence of four and half years for the sexual offence, and three-and-half years for the ABH, to run consecutively.

The Appeal Court judges reduced both jail terms by six months.