A TEENAGER given six years custody for his part in a street attack has had his sentence reduced by a year at the Court of Appeal.

The 15-year-old boy and his friends left a man with wounds to his face and head after an assault on Dorchester Road in Weymouth as he made his way home from a night out in October 2007.

The youth, who cannot be named because of his age, was sentenced to six years in youth custody at Dorchester Crown Court in April after being convicted of violent disorder, wounding with intent and breaching an anti-social behaviour order.

The teenager watched from the dock at London's Court of Appeal as three of the nation's top judges cut his sentence to five years.

Mr Justice Davis, who heard the appeal with Lord Justice Dyson and Mr Justice Maddison, said the boy's youth - he was only 14 at the time of the attack - meant the lesser sentence was appropriate.

Alongside the 15-year-old, Steven Dennis Varney, 19, of Merredin Close, Weymouth, and another younger youth were convicted and received sentences of five-and-a-half years for violent disorder and wounding with intent.

Barrister Mark Balysz, for the 15-year-old, told the Court of Appeal that six years was too long for an offender of such a young age.

Mr Justice Davis said: "The judge was entirely right to emphasise the severity of the incident.

"This was indeed an appalling case of violent disorder and it was a very grave offence.

"Clearly, the judge was justified in imposing stern sentences but we do still have to bear in mind the fact that, notwithstanding the previous convictions, he was only 14 at the time.

"Having regard to that, we do think it appropriate in this case to reduce the sentence that was imposed upon him, which we think was too long."

He added that Varney would also be granted permission to appeal his five-and-a-half year sentence at a later date.