A former maths teacher who snatched a handbag from an 80-year-old woman as she walked past a church has won a cut in his jail term.

David Sommerfield, 58, cut the bag from his victim's shoulder with a kitchen knife normally used for slicing sandwiches.

A one-time maths teacher and engineering executive, Sommerfield was out of work at the time and returning from an "abortive visit" to the job centre when he committed the offence in Brighton on April 13 this year.

Mr Justice Longmore - sitting with Lord Justice Kennedy and Mr Justice Ouseley at the Court of Appeal yesterday - reduced Sommerfield's 21-month sentence, substituting a 15-month term for this "one-off offence".

Sommerfield's victim - named as Mrs Cable - was walking past a church in the Lansdowne area when he rushed at her, demanding her bag while at the same time cutting it free with his knife.

He fled the scene but was brought to a halt by two "very courageous" passers-by, said the judge.

Sommerfield, of Arundel Place, Brighton, later expressed his intense regret for his crime, which he described as a "spur of the moment" incident.

The court heard he was previously a "well respected member of the community", while Mr Justice Longmore said the risk of him reoffending was low.

Sommerfield received his original 21-month sentence at Lewes Crown Court in July this year after admitting theft.